Riding the K-Tattoo wave with Q-Tattoos (2024)

Korean Translation

Dongkyu Lee, known by his professional name Q-Tattoos, is LA’s latest import bringing his fresh approach of tattoo artistry to the US. Well known within tattoo circles, Q’s unique and skillful approach to tattoo art is gaining international acclaim with fans and followers actively seeking him out to get inked. His work takes tattoo artistry to a new level - it is both impeccably skillful and aesthetically beautiful. Q’s ability to merge classical fine art with modern kitsch, assures him as one of Korea’s most talented artistic exports. His masterful use of color to recreate art pieces reminiscent of the renaissance and classical periods, is uniquely a primary point of difference. The hyper realistic manner in which his art evolves on flesh is testament to his impressive knowledge of art history, artistic technique and skillful needlework.

1Original art by Goergy Kurasov

However, Korea’s current ban on tattooing by non medical professionals, means that his work continues to remain ‘illegal’ in his home country.

On March 31 2022, South Korea’s Constitutional Court in Seoul upheld a ban on tattooing confirming South Korea as the only developed country that permits no one but medical professionals to perform the procedure. Currently, tens of thousands of tattoo professionals in Korea risk fines and even prosecution with jail time (from 2 years up to life) if they are caught practicing their trade. According to the Court,

"The limited medical knowledge and skills involved in tattooing cannot ensure the levels of treatment that medical professionals can provide, treatment that may be needed before or after the procedure."

The insistence that doctors are the only ones able to perform the procedures is both myopic and impractical. According to Kim Sho-yun, vice president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, the latest ruling, is "nonsense" especially given the country's growing tattoo market and rising global status.

"Why do they insist tattooing is a medical procedure even though doctors can't and don't do that?"

This also flies in the face of a growing interest in K-Tattoos which are known for fine-line designs, delicate details and use of bold colours. The ruling upholds a 1992 Supreme Court decision that copied a Japanese verdict stipulating that tattooing was a medical activity, even though Japanese courts have since overturned that ruling2.

Q grew up under the haze of these laws - when getting tattoos and exposing them publicly was not a socially accepted norm. So how did this former art student become such a gifted needle master?

I recently spoke with Q about his work and how he managed to get to where he is today despite South Korea’s rather draconian tattoo laws.

Sophie K: You have recently moved to LA from South Korea. Who is Q the tattoo artist and how did you get into this industry?

Q-Tattoos: When I was in the army service, because Korean men have to do military service, one of the guys got a tattoo when he was on his vacation. Tattoos are illegal in Korea right? The army is very strict on following regulations so we were not allowed to get tattoos, but this guy got one on his vacation and because of this, he got punished. After he was punished, he came into the room and was smiling and happy. We all asked him why he was smiling since he just got punished - and he said “…the punishment is finished but I just got a new tattoo”. He was so happy because of it and that made me curious. He showed me the tattoo and it was fine lined like the old school tattoos- without color just lines. That was so beautiful for me and I thought that when I finish my time in the army I’m going to learn tattooing. I didn’t know anything about tattooing, but it was on my bucket list. During their army service, many Korean guys make a bucket list so I was, “…when I finish the army I’m going to do this, then this, then that” and that was one of my bucket list items. So after the army service, I found this tattoo place - I just went and knocked and said “…I want to learn tattoo!” I was lucky though because when I started at that tattoo shop, it was actually a really good one. In Korea there were maybe only one or two shops that were ok. Which means most were sh*t; they didn’t have any knowledge of tattooing at all. Some didn’t have basic information about how to make tattoos. Some were using the same needles on different people. That’s terrible because people didn’t know back then, they lacked basic information about it. This was around 2010 before social media was really big and they just didn’t know. You see, in Korea the industry only really started about 10 years ago. Many tattoo shops were bad - because it was illegal it meant anyone could do it but they lacked the basic knowledge. It was dangerous and not many people knew how to do it properly - they didn’t know where to buy the machines, the needles, the equipment, they didn’t know where to supply their needs. Only specific tattooists knew this information but there weren’t many of these guys and they were mostly working underground.

I had found a very good tattoo shop to start at but I didn’t know it was going to be this good - I was lucky. Back in the day tattooing wasn’t taught; as the artists are highly specialized, they worry if they teach others they may lose clients. It was a very closed industry globally but in Korea it was even worse. We had to watch very carefully to learn from a distance. I just watched little by little far away from the artist and learned. Mostly I had to learn by myself because I couldn’t even ask the tattooist what they were doing; when I would ask they’d get really upset with me. They were very protective and possessive of their work.

Eventually I picked up the skills and even today, I still practice on clients. Artists are always practicing every day. But when I started, I used to call a bunch of friends to practice tattooing on.

3

How did you get into putting such color into your tattoo art? Were you an artist?

I have been drawing my entire life. I was at an art high school and art university. Then I completed my compulsory army service and then started tattooing. I think you have to already be an artist to tattoo well.

4Perseus

I wanted to ask you about you about the theme that connects the ancient and renaissance art in your tattoos. They could be paintings hanging in a museum! What is the inspiration behind those and the blue statue tattoos?

My inspiration comes from my love for western classical art and paintings. When I started art high school I fell in love with Rembrandt, Caravaggio and a lot of Baroque artists. That’s why I started drawing in the first place. Since then, I’ve been trying to find my style and in the past, I would just use digital copies to tattoo portraits. But I slowly moved to using a more painted style print rather than a photocopy digital print. I now want to make more unique pieces. For the statue heads, I love classical art and the color blue - it’s my favorite color. So then I thought what if I mixed my love for classical art and the color blue together? That’s how I created the Blue Editions. I have to say the color blue really looks beautiful on the skin. I tried it on some clients and now more people want the Blue Editions for their tattoos. These days the ink brands are all of excellent quality - ink isn’t the factor that makes the blue pop on the skin it also depends on the artist’s skill level. Tattooing isn’t the same as painting on a canvas- if I use pigment it will be the same tone on the canvas. But on skin and how it heals on the skin varies.

5Blue Statue Edition #2

6Blue Edition 2021 Marcus Aurelius

7Blue Edition #1

Tell me about some of the words on the blue statue heads? How do you decide what words match the piece?

For the Apollo piece, I tried to give it more of a street vibe - more gangsta and then to also add a more kitschy side to it. So the classic art is there, and then I add the kitschy words and icons on it and blend the two. So I add a bunch of words from old school gang tattoos and blend them onto the statue head.

What are your favorite pieces to work on? Which one can you say ‘I’m very proud of this?’

If I had to choose one, then it’s the Baptism of Vajk, 1875, oil on canvas, 360x245. It’s most technical tattoo I’ve ever done. I love the painting and so I decided to make it into a tattoo. How I use the needle is important but there are so many things that make that piece what it is. If it were possible to explain how I do this in one sentence then it would be easy and everyone would be able to do it. I think the first thing you have to understand is that knowledge of how to paint is essential. If you don’t know how to paint, then you’re not going to get the tattoo right. Tattooing is far more complicated than painting.

8Baptism of Vajk, 1875

Which are the most popular tattoos people want?

These days most clients want the classical art painting and angel painting tattoos and some also want the blue statue work. The Blue Edition isn’t as popular with many people but those that do get it, crazy like it. It’s so good when they love the Blue Edition work because I want to do more editions to add to the Blue tattoos - if blue gets more popular I want to make green editions and pink editions too.

9Night and Day

Do you get many female clients coming to get work done?

It’s basically 99% men. Very few women come in and only those who want something very specific. I think it’s because I don’t do small cute tattoos - I make powerful imagery in my tattoos, and perhaps they feel it’s too strong for them. I don’t do pretty things like flowers - I always try to have strong images. I also don’t really consult gently either! Maybe women aren’t comfortable with that. Many women like to talk about what they like and consult conversationally. I don’t really do that I guess. Men generally don’t like too much conversation. They say “.. I want that” and I’m like “..Ok I’ll make it.” Short conversation. Maybe women feel uncomfortable with that possibly. Things are changing in Korea though. There are many women that want tattoos but are still scared to get them in case it may affect their job. When they start a conversation with me though they say “I want to get tattoo but I’m scared.”

Prior to your move to LA, people would fly from all over the world to come to get tattooed by you. Where were they mainly coming from?

About 60-70% of my clients came from outside Korea before covid. Mostly from the USA. They’d come over to get a full sleeve or back piece because Korea is cheaper than the USA. So a big project is affordable for them. They’d travel and get the tattoo and still it worked out cheaper for them than getting it done in the USA. So they got a holiday and a tattoo piece made for a similar price.

Have you worked on any people we may know? Famous people?

I tattooed several famous people both in the USA and in Korea. I did 3-4 famous people in Korea - one is MC Meta a Korean rapper. I have also done work on some Korean idols but of course, they don’t want to be named, because as idols*, they need to keep quiet as it could hurt their career. In Korea there has also been trouble after some idols have gotten tattoos; the responses from fans created all sorts of problems for the tattooists and their shops. That’s why tattoo artists don’t represent the idols they’ve done work on and why idols don’t represent their tattoos and their artists openly. One of the idol guys I did, he’s really famous and a really nice guy, but he doesn’t want it known because it could ruin his career. I already had a relationship with him before I worked on him, but I would rather not mention him by name because I also don’t want trouble.

*Korean idols are artists signed to large entertainment agencies working under strict contracts who face greater challenges getting tattoo work than other regular artists. This is due to their level of fame, the amount of fans they have and concerns over how their fans may respond.

So where to next for Q?

I want to open my own shop in LA and bring over Korean tattoo artists to work in the USA. They are struggling in Korea but they’re really good at what they do, so I want to bring them here to introduce them to this market. As it’s illegal in Korea it makes it very hard for them to work there. Whilst this was one reason why I also left Korea, the main reason I’m here in the US is because I really want to open a tattoo business as it’s a much more positive region to work in - And I want to bring over these artists where we can all work together under brighter conditions and of course, make money!

Follow Q’s work on his Instagram page @q_tattoos