Why Korean Celebrities With Tattoos Still Face Backlash

The debate over Korean celebrities with tattoos is back in the spotlight — and singer-actress Nana just became the face of it all. On a recent episode of Salon Drip 2, Nana openly shared her decision to remove nearly all her tattoos — except for one special mark on her shin: “1968,” her mother’s birth year.

Nana didn’t sugarcoat how painful the tattoo removal was. She sat through five sessions without any numbing cream. “I didn’t want to waste 3–4 hours waiting for anesthetic to kick in — that time is too precious,” she said. She listed her chest line, ribs, and the top of her foot as the most painful spots to erase.

When asked why she chose to remove them, Nana admitted it was partly because her mother gently suggested it. “After some time, she asked me carefully, ‘What about removing it?’ and I said, ‘Sure, I can remove it.’”

Of course, Nana’s deep bond with her mother is beautiful — she even goes clubbing with her on New Year’s Eve. But her choice to wipe away her ink touches on a bigger question: Why do Korean celebrities with tattoos still feel pressure to hide them?

READ MORE: BABYMONSTER KStarNextDoor: AHYEON’s Viral High Notes

READ MORE: HAHA Sunny Day Feat. Young K: Studio Behind Story

It’s not that Korean pop culture rejects all body modifications. Plastic surgery is widely accepted, even expected, in some corners of K-pop and Korean entertainment. Nose jobs, double eyelid surgery, fillers — stars talk about them openly, and fans often cheer them on. But tattoos? That’s where lines are still drawn.

Older generations see tattoos as rebellious or “dirty,” a stigma rooted in old laws that linked ink to gang culture. Even now, a visible tattoo can spark hate comments, damage brand deals, or make agencies worry about a star’s “clean image.”

So it’s worth asking: If plastic surgery is fine — why not tattoos? Both are personal choices about what someone does with their own body. If a celebrity wants to get a sleeve, a neck piece, or even a tiny hidden word, that should be entirely up to them. Tattoos can be beautiful art, meaningful memories, or just a fun style — and that freedom shouldn’t be so taboo in 2025.

Nana’s story is sweet because it shows how far she’ll go to honor her mother’s wishes — but it’s also a reminder that Korean celebrities with tattoos still pay a price for doing what they want with their own skin. As Nana herself proves, you can remove the ink — but the bigger change has to come from society learning to mind its own business when it comes to personal choice. For more news, check out the link below.

Source (1)