7/1/2003: Korean tattooees

These South Korean youngsters have been arrested because of the tattoos on their bodies.

Turns out that South Korea officially considers men with tattoos to be unsuitable for the military because they are an "abomination".

It turns out that military service in S. Korea is pretty universal, a sacred duty and avoiding it is considered unmanly. So they've arrested 170 guys with tattoos, and these gents may get up to three years in jail for their crime.

In the country's older culture, tattoos were considered disgraceful, connected to organized crime. But this is colliding with the youth culture where the tattoos are apparently newly hip.

full story

Tsk..tsk..tsk...and they won't get into heaven either.

As I remember from an article I read about this, these tattoos extend down the inside of their thighs as well. As anyone with a tattoo can attest too, that is a whole lot of needlework. I applaud them for making a stand and making some nice art at the same time, even if it only makes them worth an extra pack of smoke in the Big House.

An artist friend of mine has a book on "Body Art" which has photos of people - men and women, but mostly men - who are totally covered with tattoos, and I do mean totally, even the top of the head and the penis. Apparently when the later is done, the tattooee often passes out. And the tattooing is so extensive that the skin doesn't breathe as it should so that the tattooee (love that word) has a shortened life span, by perhaps 10 years if I remember correctly. It is the kind of book that makes a strong impression.

I saw some pictures the other day of a guy that has about 80% of his "body suit" done. So far it's cost him (pause for effect) $1 0 0, 0 0 0!!!

A few years back the Victoria and Albert Museum started this cool thing- "a day of record" where they would collect information from their visitors on a designated day and topic, to be compiled as historical documents, post them on their web site. They had a tattoo day with 1,000+ vistors who could have the museum photographers take digital pics of their tattoos. Its a wonderful visual data base \

Sneaky. So the army is picky about who they accept. But serving in the army is a sacred duty, therefore getting rejected is your fault, punishable by time in jail and/or hell.

I was about to say, these look like yakuza-type tats to me, though i'm sure the Koreans have thier own orgnised crime syndicates. The yakuza are, after all, origionally samuaris of a sort.

Some asian cultures like tattoos.

I've been thinking of getting the "eternity" symbol on my left wrist, on the top. Cover-upable by my watch. I did my research.

Let it all out, Quzah.

You know, you and me really oughta start a fight club.

No one talks about fight club!

its a pity when anyone is improsoned for expressing themselves peacefully without harm to others. i think the artwork is great, but the tatoos themselves need some work.
possibly, the reason why the artwork looks Japanese is due to the fact that during feudal times, Japan made many raids on the Korean peoples. during these raids many of the Korean artisans were captured and sent back to japan and their art went with them. as a matter of fact, many of the aesthetic traditions that are commonly thought of as Japanese like bonsai and stylized prints, actually originated in Korea.

You're both figments.:p

Quote:

Assuming they were trying to avoid the army is the same as assuming they are gangsters.

By accurate report made by Los Angeles Times & New York Times that 75% of Yakuza are 2nd. and 3rd. generation Koreans that were born in Japan. Also very deep ties with Korean organized clans in Korea. Tattoos have means and identities.

Bruce is that baby the new Yakuza Gerbers baby?

When I get the foundation done I'm gonna have to p'shop a mullet on him...
bwahahaha

Wow if those guys are in trouble, i wonder what kind of trouble i'm in?

Uh oh, you're in deep poopie, Doodle.

China Army prohibits the tattoo guys entry.

Do they arrest them then, or is army service not mandatory in China?