You can arrange a Korean traditional tattoo before you fly to Seoul. Onsil Ink,
the minhwa (Korean folk painting) studio of artist Haesol Choi (최해솔) near Konkuk University,
handles the design conversation remotely in English or Korean, then books the in-person session into
your Seoul visit. Here is the full process, step by step.
How to book a Korean tattoo from abroad
- Send a consultation request (now, before travel). Use the booking form or email
with: which motif speaks to you (or the meaning you want to carry), reference images, approximate
placement, and your travel window in Seoul. Reply in English or Korean. - Design conversation (about 1–4 weeks). Haesol drafts a composition; you discuss
revisions by email or KakaoTalk. The design is finalised before you confirm travel dates. - Deposit and date confirmation. A deposit secures the session date. Pay by wire
transfer in KRW or by an international method agreed during the conversation. - Travel and session (your Seoul visit). Single-session pieces typically run a few
hours; larger work may need more than one session. Leave at least one full day in Seoul after the
session before a long-haul flight. - Aftercare (written, in English and Korean). You receive a day-by-day healing
protocol to follow at home. Message the studio through the same channel if anything comes up while healing.
What kind of tattoo is this?
Onsil works in minhwa — Korean folk painting reinterpreted as tattoo (magpie-and-tiger,
crane and pine, peony, the ten symbols of longevity). It is a distinct Korean tradition, separate from the
dancheong-colour style and from Japanese irezumi. Tattooing is fully legal in South Korea under the
September 2025 Tattooist Act.
The traditional practice — Onsil Ink
This site (Mini Ink Seoul) covers minimalist line work. The same artist runs
Onsil Ink for the Korean traditional / minhwa practice;
the visitor guide has the full from-abroad workflow.
FAQ
How do I pay a deposit from another country?
The deposit is arranged during the design conversation — typically a wire transfer in KRW or an agreed
international method. It secures your session date and is settled before you travel.
How long should my Seoul trip be?
For a single-session piece, plan at least three days: the session, a rest day, and at least one full
day before a long-haul flight (cabin dryness slows early healing). Larger pieces may need a return visit.
What if I already have a reference design?
Bring the reference image and Haesol will redraw the composition individually for your body. The studio
composes from shared minhwa references rather than copying another artist’s finished tattoo.
