Monday, November 3, 2025. The cold Seoul air greets Kim Do-yoon as he exits the Northern District Court after another appeal hearing. The paradox of the situation cannot be overstated: a man known globally as Doy, one of South Korea’s most influential tattoo artists and activists, continues to go through legal proceedings for a “crime” that will soon cease to be one.
His offense: tattooing a satisfied client. The case, initiated back in 2019 after working with a celebrity, has dragged on for six years, despite the fact that just a few weeks prior, the country’s parliament made a historic breakthrough by passing the “Tattooist Act.” This law, designed to end a 33-year era of underground operations, signifies the official recognition of the industry but only comes into effect in 2027. Until then, tattooing without a medical license remains formally illegal.
