Health ministry issues tattoo safety guidelines ahead of new law

The health ministry on Thursday distributed standard guidelines to ensure hygiene and safety at tattoo studios ahead of the Tattoo Artist Act. The manual outlines mandatory procedures for facility management, tool sterilization and infection prevention.

The guidelines were developed to secure hygiene levels at tattoo sites, ensuring both practitioners and clients can perform and receive tattoos safely. To achieve this, the document defines 55 specific terms, distinguishing between calligraphy and cosmetic tattoos, and clarifies vocabulary related to cleaning, disinfection and sterilization.

The guidelines divide shops into three zones: a waiting area, a procedure area and a washing or disinfection zone. While walls are preferred, partitions may define these spaces if equipment maintains proper workflow and sanitary conditions. Strict rules govern tools, requiring sterile, single-use items discarded immediately after use. Reusable instruments require thorough cleaning and disinfection, though sterilization remains a recommendation. High-risk consumables such as pigment cups and gauze must be sterile and single-use, and artists must wear gloves, masks and aprons.

Pre-procedure safeguards include verifying client health status via a written form. Individuals with a history of blood-borne infectious diseases such as hepatitis B or C must obtain a medical opinion from a healthcare institution before tattooing. The document provides templates for consent forms and procedure records to help studios manage these requirements.

To develop the standards, the ministry held three meetings with more than 40 tattoo artist associations between May and July while consulting medical and academic experts. Officials said they prioritized field applicability alongside safety.

Enacted on Oct. 28, 2025, the Tattoo Artist Act takes effect Oct. 29, 2027. The ministry will distribute the guidelines through local governments and industry groups, and make them available online along with a list of frequent questions.

"As the Tattoo Artist Act has been enacted after long deliberation, it is most important that safe tattoo procedures are now conducted within the institutional framework," Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyung said. She urged practitioners to prepare facilities and adhere to the guidelines so the public can use services with greater peace of mind.