Artists Hongdam, Doy, Banul, and Flower.
These tattoo artists are nothing short of amazing. And they’re all Korean.
As of late, Korean tattoo artists have been taking the tattoo industry by storm. And as a site that prides itself on showcasing the best artists and designs from around the world, we’ve become quite familiar with a number of South Korean tattoo artists that are consistently creating jaw-dropping works of art that people just can’t get enough of.
As you start scrolling, you’ll notice subtle similarities in style as well as other reoccurring themes. While each artist has their own unique style, these similarities are proof of the influence and inspiration that exists within this tight-knit community. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite tattoo artists from the Land of The Morning Calm.
Woojin Choi (OOZY)
Photo: OOZY Tattoo
Also known as OOZY, Woojin Choi spends his days creating detailed works of art in his signature style that’s comprised mainly of a unique mixture of fine dots and lines. Choi’s love for blackwork is evident in his portfolio which rarely features color tattoos. The artists use of heavy blackwork segments set amongst light dotwork makes for a wonderful contrast which can be seen in many of his pieces.
From the artist:
Hongdam
Pictured second from the right along with Tattooist to the stars Jon Boy.
As tempting as it is to call Hongdam the Dr. Woo of the orient, it just wouldn’t be fair—or right for that matter. Although the two artists often come up in the same conversation due to their amazing ability to capture the smallest of details, their styles are in indeed quite different.
Hongdam’s style can be described as elegant and graceful. It’s almost as if Hongdam’s work has a calming effect that immediately puts the viewer into a state of tranquility. His portfolio features everything from exquisite watercolor florals to fascinating lifelike animals. If you’re looking for a single, stand alone tattoo, it doesn’t get much better than this guy.
From the artist:
Banul
Banul pictured left
Catering to a decidedly feminine clientele, Banul is every girls dream tattooist. Proof that females now outnumber men when it comes to getting inked these days, finding a male patron on Banul’s Instagram page is almost like picking up a Where’s Waldo book. If you’re looking for something delicate and adorable that will never go out of style, Banul can definitely hook you up.
From the artist:
Tattooist River
Vibrant colors and impeccable detail don’t always go together. But don’t tell tattoo artist River that. Color mixed with complexity always manages to give his work that wow factor without being over-the-top.
River works out of Graffittoo Tattoo Studio in Seoul, South Korea.
From the artist:
Tattooist IDA
Besides her adorable dogs, IDA is known for her ability to apply creative new twists to ordinary designs. Although IDA doesn’t have as many Instagram followers as some of the other artists on this list, we don’t expect that to be the case for long. IDA is one of the most underrated Korean tattoo artists with the skills to back up her creativity.
From the artist:
Sanghyuk Ko
South Korean-born tattoo artist Sanghyuk Ko is an absolute prodigy. Known for his stunning, detail-packed micro tats, it’s no surprise that he dips his needles at the famous Bang Bang tattoo shop in New York City. If you can dream it, he can ink it. Just don’t expect to walk in.
From the artist:
Tattooist Doy
Another expert tiny tattooer, Tattooist Doy creates some of the cleanest inkwork you’ll ever see. Doy dabbles a little in everything. From sharks teeth to knights on horseback, Doy continues to amaze all who enter his Instagram account with his other-worldy designs. And with almost 300k followers, it’s safe to say that he’s one of the most popular tattoo artists in the world.
From the artist:
Nando
We can’t say enough good things about Nando. As you may have noticed, there’s no shortage of floral tattooists in Korea. But Nando’s delicate blackwork floral works are in a league of their own. If you’re looking for something tasteful and feminine, you wont’ be disappointed.
From the artist:
Tattooist Grain
Our day usually consists of constantly refreshing Grain’s Instagram page in hopes of being the first to lay eyes upon his newest piece. Another vastly underrated tattoo artist, Grain goes about his business executing masterful cover-ups and original works which will have you staring for hours.
From the artist:
Seoeon
Another brilliant tattoo artist that focuses on the adorable. Seoeon, a popular Instagram tattoo artist, loves to work the watercolor fill into her tiny coveted designs. Make sure to check out her impeccable small print cursive as wel.
From the artist:
Wonseok
Pictured right
Tattooist Wonseok can do it all, but what really catches our eye is his skill for blending color. Pastels, watercolor, hyperrealistic, they are all equally amazing.
From the artist:
Chaehwa
Looking for something cute with a vintage feel to it? Then Chaehwa’s your gal. This tattoo artist’s signature style has been featured time and again on our site due to her unique sketch style design that features squiggley lines instead of the usual over-sketched edges.
From the artist:
Zihee
Zihee’s semi-surrealist style is definitely one of her own. But judging from her diverse portfolio, she likes to experiment with various different styles of design. From blackwork designs to colorful creations, Zihee always leaves us wondering what she will create next.
From the artist:
Silo
If you’re a fan of floral work, you’ll definitely appreciate Silo’s work. Unlike many of the other artists featured in this article, Silo tends to favor relatively larger designs.
From the artist:
Handitrip (Zi O)
Working out of his cozy rooftop studio.
Located in Busan, on South Korea’s southern tip, Zi O is one of the only artists on the list not living/working in Seoul. Although Zi O has a relatively tame Instagram following, his skills are anything but.
From the artist:
Tattooist Flower
You guessed it. Tattooist “Flower,” as she goes by, is mainly known for her beautiful floral tattoos. But that’s not all she does. Her eye for detail and color is even more evident is some of her non-floral pieces. Favoring the watercolor fill technique, each and every one of Flower’s designs can only be described as magical.
From the artist:
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