Woman says Busan temple barred her over tattoo of nude woman
A woman was reportedly stopped from entering a Buddhist temple in Busan because of her clothing and tattoos. The incident has started an online debate about whether religious places should be allowed to limit entry based on a person’s appearance.
The woman said she visited Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan and tried to enter one of its prayer halls. A staff member stopped her at the entrance.
At first, she thought the problem was her shorts. She tried to cover them with another piece of clothing. However, the staff member told her that both her clothes and tattoos were inappropriate.
The woman has several tattoos on her neck, arms and thighs. One of the tattoos appears to show a nude woman.
She said the staff member’s reaction made her feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. She questioned why she was treated as if she was not worthy of praying because of her appearance.
She also asked the temple to clearly explain its rules about tattoos and clothing. She wanted to know whether the rules depend on the size, number or content of tattoos.
People online had different opinions. Some supported the woman and said the temple should clearly announce its rules before visitors enter. Others said visitors should respect the dress code and appearance standards of a place of worship.
In Korea, visitors can generally walk around Buddhist temple grounds freely. However, people entering prayer halls are expected to dress modestly. Shorts, sleeveless clothing and visible tattoos may need to be covered.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10857651
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