From Image Shift to Personal Growth: Why Korean Celebrities Are Choosing to Remove Their Tattoos

Once seen as a symbol of rebellion, tattoos in South Korea are increasingly recognized as a form of personal expression and art. However, a growing number of celebrities are now choosing to remove their tattoos, citing everything from personal growth and family influence to shifting life roles and image considerations.

Song Baek-kyung: “A Clean Slate for My Kids”

Song Baek-kyung, a member of the first-generation hip-hop group 1TYM, recently revealed via social media that he has begun the process of removing his tattoos. Describing it as “the last trace of celebrity syndrome on my body,” he called it the first step in his journey toward living with a clean body.

His decision is driven by his role as a father. “I’m glad I can now confidently tell my sons, who once said I looked cool like a gangster, that tattoos are absolutely off-limits,” he shared. His post included photos of his arms wrapped in bandages post-treatment, with removal already underway behind his ears and on his ankles. He added, “There are too many roles in my future father, husband, CEO for me to live as someone covered in tattoos.”

On Parents’ Day, Song also shared a heartfelt letter from his child congratulating him for starting the tattoo removal process, which is expected to take three years.

HyunA: A Painful but Purposeful Journey

Singer HyunA, now happily married to Yong Jun-hyung, has also embarked on tattoo removal. In a recent YouTube appearance, she admitted that removing her tattoos has been “incredibly painful,” but explained that her mother’s gentle suggestion prompted her to try living with a clean body. “It’s been a year. I had tattoos all over my body. It takes a long time. I’ve done four sessions and am taking breaks in between — going once every two months,” she said.

She also spoke about the personal struggle of letting go of identity markers like piercings, which she described as “the last piece of herself.”

Nana: A Promise to Her Mother

Nana (After School) also decided to remove her tattoos following a heartfelt conversation with her mother. During an appearance on the show Thursday Night with Jo Hyun-ah, Nana recalled, “My mom asked if she could see me with a clean body again. She gave me permission back then, so now I said, ‘Sure, I can erase them.'”

Nana explained that she had turned to tattoos during a difficult period in her life as a form of emotional release. Now, feeling more stable, she says removing them has not been difficult: “It was a way to express myself when I was struggling. But now that I’m okay, I want to honor her request.”

Others Who Chose to Remove Their Tattoos

• Han So-hee, who had tattoos on her arms before her acting debut, removed them with her agency’s support reportedly at a cost of 20 million KRW. Still, she frequently shares photos using tattoo stickers, continuing to express her individuality.

• Lee Seok-hoon admitted he had his tattoo—inked in grief after his mother’s passing during military service—removed after the birth of his child. “It was meaningful, but when I thought of my child, I realized I wanted it gone.”

• Sunday, formerly of CSJH The Grace, revealed she regretted her tattoos after giving birth. “My daughter kept staring at them like they were part of a picture book,” she shared on social media.

Not Everyone Regrets Their Ink

While many stars are removing tattoos, others continue to embrace theirs unapologetically.

Lee Hyori stated, “I have no regrets about my tattoos or past mistakes. Everything had its reason at the time, and if I hadn’t done it, I would’ve been more stressed.”

Jungkook has also defended his choice to keep his tattoos, stating, “I understand those who remove theirs, but for me, they were what I wanted in that moment. That version of me was still me. Erasing them would feel like denying my past self.”

From shifting personal philosophies to growing familial responsibilities, Korean celebrities’ decisions to remove tattoos reflect deeper journeys of self-reflection. Whether keeping or removing them, these stories highlight how tattoos serve as both artistic expression and markers of life’s changing phases.