Seoul · Hongdae
Korean Local Shop
Advance Booking Available
Group Tattoo Available
English Friendly
YMTATTOO SEOUL
Tattoo Reviews & Stories — real experiences, designs, and moments from Hongdae.
While getting a tattoo in Korea, I ended up seeing a lot of different blackwork designs. YM Tattoo Studio had a huge range of styles, and it made me realize how many directions blackwork can take here. Among everything I saw, three types stood out to me the most: hannya masks, anime-inspired pieces, and thorn tattoos.
The hannya masks were the first thing that caught my eye. Even though the designs were all black, the expressions looked powerful and dramatic. Some versions were bold with thick lines, and others were lighter and more detailed. I didn’t know much about hannya before, but seeing so many versions made it easy to understand why people choose it — the look is intense in a good way.
What surprised me was how differently each artist interprets the mask. Some designs were very simple and sharp, while others looked more traditional or highly detailed. Even with these variations, every hannya had the same strong presence. It felt like one of those designs that can fit many tastes but still keep its identity.
I also noticed a lot of anime-inspired blackwork tattoos. Characters, symbols, and simple outlines showed up in many designs. Even without color, the style still felt recognizable and stylish. It was fun to see how anime elements could turn into clean blackwork pieces that still keep their original vibe.
Thorn tattoos came in two main styles. Some were realistic, like sharp thorns wrapping around the arm or wrist. Others were more decorative, almost like patterns or accessories. Seeing both styles made me realize that thorns can be either intense or subtle depending on how they’re drawn, which makes the idea pretty flexible.
Overall, Korean blackwork tattoos felt a lot more varied than I expected. From strong hannya masks to clean anime-inspired pieces and flexible thorn designs, there’s a lot to explore. Seeing these styles in one place gave me a better idea of how creative blackwork can be in Korea.
