"Large Tattoos Like Blank Canvas... Unpleasant to See"
"Feeling Uncomfortable" vs "Part of Fashion" Conflicting Opinions
'No Tattoo Zone' Emerging Domestically
A netizen voiced the opinion that "people with tattoos should be restricted from entering swimming pools" because they dislike seeing them there.
On the 24th, an online community called 'BobaeDream' featured a post titled "There are too many tattooed people at the swimming pool, it's really annoying." The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "I take my children to the swimming pool. But there are too many tattooed people there." The term 'munshinchung' combines the word for tattoo (munshin) with the character for insect (蟲, chung), used derogatorily to refer to people with tattoos.
Mr. A expressed strong feelings, saying, "There are many with Irezumi (traditional Japanese tattoos), and some have tattoos as large as canvases." He added, "Seeing someone with a koi fish tattoo swimming in the water makes me want to throw them into a freshwater river." He continued, "It’s unpleasant to see people exposing their tattoos while showering where children also are," and argued, "I think Korea should also prohibit people with tattoos from entering places where exposure is unavoidable, just like in Japan." Furthermore, he expressed rejection, saying, "Because tattooed people are treated as normal, they roam freely everywhere. I really dislike it," and "You can’t tell if they have washed or if they are dirty. Even if they wash, they look so dirty as if the dirt won’t come off."
In fact, in famous hot spring tourist spots in Japan such as Yufuin, signs prohibiting entry to people with tattoos are commonly seen. This is because heavily tattooed Yakuza (members of Japanese organized crime groups) can cause unease among other guests. In Korea, around March, 'No Tattoo Zones' restricting access to people with tattoos have appeared in places like bathhouses, hotels, and swimming pools. One gym owner operating a No Tattoo Zone explained, "We recommended restricting tattoo exposure because it could create a sense of threat to other customers."
Netizens showed mixed reactions to tattoos. Many agreed with Mr. A’s opinion, saying things like, "Seeing someone covered in tattoos makes me feel uncomfortable and want to keep my distance," "I hope they cover up when entering places like gyms," and "Since tattoos were once a symbol of delinquency, they should accept the negative perception." On the other hand, many defended tattoos, saying, "Tattoos are now just part of fashion," "Many celebrities have them, so what’s the problem?" and "Criticizing tattoos is an outdated way of thinking."
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