A Korean Tattoo Artist in Paris: Two Guest Spot Stories

I’m writing this from Paris. Since late July I’ve been working here as a guest artist, while my regular studio, Daldam Tattoo in Hongdae, Seoul, waits for me to come home. Guest spots are strange in the best way. Same machines, same ink, different light through the window. And this past week, two clients reminded me why I keep doing them.

Margot and the lantern girl

Margot asked for a vertical piece on her forearm, and we landed on a scene I loved drawing. A girl in a green dress holding a small lantern, standing under a red pagoda, blossoms drifting through a narrow strip of sky. Long compositions like this suit the forearm so well. The arm gives you a natural frame, and if the values are planned right, the whole scene stays readable from a few steps away.

When the second skin went on, I took the photo I always take at that moment. Fresh color under the film is the most saturated it will ever look until healing finishes, and I like keeping a record of that version too.

Her review came in a few hours later. She wrote that the result was “even better than everything I could have imagined,” and then a story popped up on Instagram, tagged from Paris, with heart hands. Reviews like that don’t get old. Not even a little.

Viktor and the Master Sword

Viktor already had color work on his arm, so this one was a different kind of puzzle. The new piece had to live next to the existing ones without shouting over them.

He wanted The Legend of Zelda. We chose the Master Sword standing in its forest pedestal, the Hylian Shield resting at the base, ruins and mountains behind it, light breaking through the trees. I redrew the scene as an original composition sized for the space on his forearm, matched the panel format to his other pieces, and kept the greens close enough that the whole arm now reads as one collection.

His review arrived the same day: “the artwork was incredible and the tattoo came out great!” Thank you, Viktor. Game pieces are a joy to work on. The client cares about every small detail, and so do I.

What a guest spot actually is

A guest spot means an artist packs up and works from another studio in a different city for a short time. Clients there get access to a style they would normally have to fly for. I get new walls, new conversations, and a reset that shows up in my work for months afterward.

My home base doesn’t change. Daldam Tattoo is a private studio in Hongdae, Seoul, and most of my clients are travelers visiting Korea. Sessions run in English, booking starts with a message on Instagram, WhatsApp, or email, and I share the exact studio address once an appointment is confirmed. If that system is new to you, I wrote a full guide on how tattoo booking works in Seoul, from the first message to the final design.

Paris until August 8, Seoul from mid-August

The Paris guest spot wraps up on August 8. After that I fly home, and my Seoul calendar reopens from mid-August.

If a tattoo is part of your Korea trip this autumn, this is a good moment to reach out. Send your idea, rough size, placement, and travel dates through the contact page, and I’ll reply with a design direction, a price estimate, and available days. Still comparing neighborhoods and studios? Start with my guide on where to get a tattoo in Seoul, and the Seoul tattoo price guide covers what custom color work usually costs.

Quick questions I’ve been getting

Can I book a Seoul session while you’re still in Paris? Yes, and it’s actually the best time. Mid-August onward is open, and people who write early get first pick of dates.

Do you tattoo in English? Every day. Most of my Seoul clients are visiting from abroad. If you’re vetting artists for your trip, here’s what I tell people to check before booking.

Do you take game and anime designs? I do, as custom work. I redraw the scene as an original composition for your placement instead of copying a frame. That’s why Viktor’s sword and Margot’s lantern girl both feel like tattoos first and references second.

If you caught me in Paris this summer, or a color piece is on your Korea list, my inbox is open on Instagram and WhatsApp. And if you’re just starting to plan, my complete guide to getting a tattoo in Korea as a tourist is the best place to begin.