#asiantats

                         In Korean ancient times, fisherman used tattoos to protect themselves from evil spirits that might attack them in the sea. As time progressed, tattoos changed from being used for spiritual protection to a symbol to be ostracized. In the 19th century, during the Joseon Dynasty, tattoos were seen as an affront to one's own body. Criminals and slaves were branded, a visible sign that they were "apart" from the rest of society. For example, some criminals were branded "thief" on their foreheads and slaves had the name of their owner on their forearm. It effectively made all those branded into outcasts and as a walking sign of shame.                             

                    The famous Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Stemming from this text from an old Confucian text, “our bodies—to every hair and bit of skin—are received from our parents, and we must not presume to injure or wound them”, it was seen as disrespectable to both the individual and family to change one's body.  This Confucian principle of purity, in both body and spirit, is integral to Korean society even now. Bodies are seen as a gift from the ancestors and shouldn't be marred in any way being using tattoos. In the 20th century, Korean crime families used tattoos as a way to identify which gang you belonged to.

Example of a Korean gang tattoo. The panther symbolizes power and is meant to intimidate others.

   This practice was taken from crime groups in Japan. In that time and even with the current older Korean population, tattooed individuals are seen as either dangerous criminals or at best, merely untrustworthy. In other words, they weren't individuals that you brought home to meet your family. In those days, people with tattoos were denied access to the public bathhouse and swimming pool, due to fear that they would scare away the clientele. They could also be denied a job because they had a tattoo. Despite all of this, tattoos were never illegal. Socially, ethnic Koreans and foreigners with tattoos are frowned upon and stand out among their peers.   

  http://www.korea4expats.com/article-tattoos-Korea-society-attitude.html

http://www.frank151.com/news/the-secret-story-of-korean-tattoos-memento-interview.html