His studio is in the area of Hong-dae in Seoul where Jae is ready to take you on a journey into the beauty of the most classic and timeless ink. Let’s get to know him better…
Please explain me: are you a tattoo artist or – as it says on your Instagram page – a “tour guide”? Or both?
Obviously I am a tattoo artist. (smiles) I was doing a guest spot in Melbourne at that time with other artists from the same shop I work at. As I went there once before them, I took them around everywhere so as a joke I changed my profile to “tour guide”. That’s when you saw me! (laughs)
Your style looks like the perfect mix of supreme elegance: black subjects and Traditional inspiration. How did you get there? Have you always focused on these two elements or can you tattoo a little bit of everything?
I started off doing illustrative Blackwork because I liked the gritty, stippled texture of the shading. However, I found myself always taking reference from Traditional designs because it’s classic and timeless.
I guess that’s how the styles got mixed. Now I’m focused solely on Traditional designs.
Do you think you have had a master over all in your life or do you consider yourself a DIY person?
I’m a 100% DIY person. When I was just practicing, I bought an electricity tester to check the current flow of all the power supplies and machines I owned. I guess that says it all! (laughs)
Let’s say I take a trip to South Korea and write you an email in advance because I want to be tattooed by you: from my arrival there what happens? Where do you usually work?
I work in an area called Hong-dae in Seoul. When you’re all good to go with me after back and forth of emails, I’ll send you the shop address. Google map it, try your best to find the way through many alley ways and I’ll be waiting at the main gate to greet you.
Can you reveal to me – assuming you have one – a big project (personal or business) that you would like to see realized as soon as possible? As, maybe you’ve been working on it for a long time and the time is now ripe…?
I’ve been wanting to do more large scale pieces. I have few back piece designs that I want to tattoo if they find the right owners.
Big projects are always welcome and prioritized for me.
Have you already planned any tattoo conventions and prestigious guest spots in early 2024? That is, if you like to participate in the artistic chaos of huge conventions…
I’ll be back in Australia again next year. I plan to guest in more cities this time. If I get lucky enough, I’ll try the ‘Iron Gate Tattoo Convention’ (IG: @theirongatetattooconvention) or ‘Rites of Passage’ (IG: @ritesofpassagefestival). Fingers crossed!
And your last famous words are… ?
As cliché it may sound, “Just do it”.
