이 글의 OST: 가수 Jordin Sparks의 ‘Tattoo’

THIS POST’S SOUNDTRACK: Jordin Sparks’ hit song “Tatoo”

FeetManSeoul은 Korea Herald 영문신문의 새로운 월간 Expat Living이란 부분에 정기적으로 패션칼럼을 연재하고 있습니다. 거기로 가시면 “Expat Living”이란 링크로 들어가시면 우리 기사가 나와요. 직접 링킹 안되네요. 그리고 우리 사이트에서더 자세히 쓴 기사를 읽으시면 좋을 수 있어요.

FeetManSeoul still regularly appears in the Expat Living section of the Korea Herald, where we did a piece not too long ago on the changing attitudes towards tattoos in Korea, and visited a tattoo artist in his Itaewon studio, after having bumped into him on the streets of Myeongdong.

이태원 뒤쩍에 언덕으로 계속 올라가면 이슬람 교회까지 오는 건데 진짜 아름다운 거예요. 그러면서도 진짜 웬지 외로운 느낌? 한국의 일반 사회한테 왕따 된 느낌이 난단 말이에요. 이태운에서 외국인, 무슬림, 동성애자, 매춘부, 미군인. 원래 그 재밌는 요소들에서 맵고 뜨거운 짬뽕이 됐는데 한국 언론에서 나온 듯이 ‘위험성’이 그렇게 특별히 없어요. 뭐, 술취한 아저씨들이 신촌에서 볼 수 있는 만큼, 영등포에서 양아치 애들이 싸우고 싶고 남들한테 십이는 만큼, 뭐 그런 것처럼. 그냥 편견뿐이죠. 문신에 대해 생각할 때처럼.

If one travels the back streets of Itaewon all the way up to it highest point, there will be the a large mosque that is as beautiful as it is very unusual. Here, there is a feeling of solitude and serenity in being so singularly isolated and unusual; this is also true for the many foreigners, Muslims, gays, prostitutes, and American GI’s who seem to find a sort of common ground in existing on the margins of mainstream Korean society. They come together in the fascinating mix that gives Itaewon its spicy and special flavor, quite without the “danger” with which many Koreans view the place. One can’t say that Itaewon is worse or any more dangerous than a group of drunk, belligerent salarymen staggering around Shinchon, or a few wannabe-thugs in Yeongdeungpo looking for a point as well as a reason to pick a fight. Such assumptions are just due to harboring simple prejudices. So it goes with Korean society’s attitude towards tattoos, which traditionally were only sported by yakuza-style gangsters and other “lowlifes.”

지난 겨울에 명동에서 촬영하다가 우연히 이 멋진 커플을 만나게 됐는데 얘기 좀 나누어보니까 문신 아티스트이래요.

We bumped into this young couple after shooting in Myeongdong last winter, and after talking with them a bit, found out they had their own tattoo studio.

흥미스러운 건 한국에서 문신에 대한 생각은 좀 안좋은데 요즘에 많이 변하고 있대요. 그래야 돼요. 얼마나 아름다운데?

The interesting thing is that attitudes towards tattoos are changing nowadays, having become trendy in the way they have been for awhile in the West, yet still have yet to shake off many of their negative associations of existing among those living along the dark and dirty underbelly of Korean society. But they are undeniably beautiful when done well, and should truly be judged as works of art unto themselves and very much a personal choice.

나중에 연락해가지고 연문신문 코리아헤랄드을 위해 기사를 쓰기로 한 거예요. 그래서 강지민이란 문신 아티스트의 이태원에 있는 가게로 간 거예요.

After having agreed to do a piece for the Korea Herald, we contacted the tattoo artist, Kang Ji-min, and visited him in his studio.

얼마 깨끗한지 얼마나 프로정신으로 한지 아마 편견이 있는 사람들이 상상할 수 없는거예요. 하는 모습도 볼 수 있었고.

Most people with negative biases against tattooing would be surprised at how clean and professional everything is in the parlor. And they let us shoot them at work on a tattoo.

그리고 진짜 열정적으로 자기 문신을 보여줬어요.

And they eagerly modeled their own tattoos for our cameras.

더 자세히 보고 싶다고요?

Ah, so you want a closer look?

여자도! 요즘에 남녀평등 시댄데…ㅋㅋ

And the girl’s, too! Men and women can’t be treated any differently these days…

얘기해보니끼 그 거 임심한 생태였어요! 이 커플이 그냥 커플아니라 완전히 경혼한 부부생활을 하고 있는 거죠. 몰랐죠? ㅋㅋㅋ 그럴 수 있죠, 뭐. 근데 원래 아주 말랐나봐요. 그 거 배가 나온 상태면. 부럽당! ㅋㅋ

While chatting during the shoot, we found out that the young lady was actually pregnant and starting to show, and that they were in fact a married couple! Didn’t know, did you? Hehe. Well, why not? Just because they have tattoos doesn’t mean they’re any different from you or me. Except that if she was a few months pregnant in that picture, she must have been awfully slim before!

뭐 문신이 많아도 다른 일반사람들처럼 사랑에 빠지고 결혼도 하고 자기 좋아하는 분야에서 개인 사업을 하는 거죠. 그리고 누구나 생각해보면 아주 휼륭한 삶이 아닌가요?

I think this picture goes to show just how much people who look very different from you and me tend to be actually not so different from the rest of us. Here’s a couple who fell in love, is starting a family, and is making a living off of what they both love to do, in something that inspires them both. And who could ask for anything more than that?

(또 다른 정보를 필요하신다면 문신 아티스트 강지민의 cyworld 홈피로 가시면 됩니다. If you would like more information about tattoo artist Kang Ji-min, he can be reached through his Cyworld page.)