Mr. Seo is recruiting resident tattoo artists for a newly opened shop in the basement near Exit 5 in Gangnam District. Four positions are available. Artists with unique linework and distinctive tattoo styles will receive special consideration. Meals and transportation allowances are provided, and accommodation at the shop is also available.
One day, Park Yeobo happened to come across the announcement while browsing an online group for tattoo artists. The notice was posted by Mr. Seo, a well-known figure in the tattoo community and the owner of a website related to tattoo business.
It was said that he was Korean but had grown up overseas and was deeply obsessed with tattoo culture. Rumor had it that his body had been inked by countless famous tattoo artists. However, no one had ever seen clearly what tattoos covered his body. Whenever he appeared in public or met people, he was always dressed neatly in a suit and tie, concealing everything beneath his clothing. Only a small portion of ink could sometimes be seen peeking out from his neck.
Mr. Seo was in his thirties but still looked remarkably refined and elegant. A wealthy man with somewhat eccentric habits, yet his vision was anything but ordinary. Known for being generous and kind, he had opened several tattoo shops to give Korean tattoo artists a place where their work could shine.
Yeobo became interested. Normally, he drifted from place to place doing tattoo work without belonging to any particular shop, but he wanted to try working with someone who had the kind of allure people in the tattoo community kept talking about the owner behind that logo.
So he traveled to the actual location on the day of the recruitment.
From Exit 5 of the Gangnam Station, after walking into an alley for a short distance, he found the studio's emblem: a logo of a bow tied around a cross. It should have looked cute and playful, yet the design somehow made it appear striking and almost sacred.
Saw Bless Studio
"I'm here to apply as a tattoo artist."
When he walked down to the basement, where the applications and selection were being held that day, he was greeted by staff members wearing black T-shirts printed with the studio's bright red logo. They wore black jeans that contrasted sharply with their pale city complexions. Four staff members stood there with identification badges hanging from their necks.
"How old are you? May I see your ID?"
"Twenty-five. Here."
Yeobo wore a simple T-shirt with his worn black leather jacket over it, fitted jeans, and his usual pair of white sneakers.
His height alone made him stand out. Combined with his bad-boy features, he looked even more striking in a place like a tattoo studio.
"Hmm… Hanbokgi District? Where is that…? Hanbokgi Village?"
One of the staff members took his ID and looked at it. The welcoming smile he had moments ago disappeared. He examined the card again, then passed it to a colleague, looking hesitant before asking again.
"You're from the Hanbokgi Special Community, right?"
"Yes."
"Uh… sorry. We only accept applicants from the city."
After realizing where he came from, the two staff members fell silent for a moment before refusing him despite the fact that they had responded online saying they were interested in his work.
"The announcement didn't say anything about restricting where applicants are from."
He asked calmly for a reason, but the other side did not listen. However, someone as stubborn and hot-blooded as Yeobo had no intention of backing down. He stood his ground, staring directly at them without flinching.
"Please step aside so the next applicant can fill out the form. If Mr. Seo arrives, we won't have time for interviews."
"But I came all this way. Aren't you at least going to look at my work or talk to me before making such a careless decision? I'm not moving until you give me a better reason than rejecting me just because I live in Hanbokgi."
Both sides stood firmly by their positions. The staff felt uneasy dealing with someone like him, yet there were four of them and they assumed nothing would happen.
"Hey, that's enough. If we said we're not accepting you, then we're not. Your place probably has internet, right? Haven't you seen what people say about that area? Hey guys, keep an eye on your stuff. Things might go missing he's from that criminal village."
The three or four staff members nearby, along with some of the other applicants, burst into laughter when they heard where Yeobo came from. Their mocking, contemptuous gazes pierced toward the tall man.
Yeobo tilted his head slightly, staring back at them with a calm but irritating expression on his face.
Crash!!
"Hey!" Thud! Bam! Crash!!
A loud crash echoed through the room. Park Yeobo kicked the table holding the documents, sending it slamming straight into the man who had insulted him and smashing him hard against the wall. Papers scattered everywhere as the table overturned.
The people nearby erupted into chaos. Shouts filled the room as the remaining staff rushed in to drag him out of the shop. But the large man remained completely unfazed. With a single swing, he threw the men trying to restrain him aside in different directions. Then he charged forward, punching the faces of everyone who had laughed at him in the shop.
The place quickly turned into complete disorder until someone suddenly walked in.
Bang!!
"Stop."
A handsome young man in a gray suit stepped forward. His sharp features and pale complexion gave him an imposing presence. The chaotic scene halted instantly when he fired a gun into the floor. Everyone froze and turned to look at him at once.
"Mr. Mr. Seo, sir! This guy is from Hanbokgi Village. He came here to cause trouble at our tattoo artist recruitment event. He even assaulted people and damaged the venue. What should we do with him?"
"One person alone managed to knock down all four of you?"
His deep, calm voice remained steady as he stared directly at the employee who had spoken.
"W-We tried to be polite with him, but he wouldn't listen. We were only trying to remind him that this place isn't some lawless backwater like the village he comes from. But he got angry and suddenly attacked us, smashing things without saying a word."
The staff shamelessly made excuses, even though their faces were bruised from the heavy fists of the man now being restrained. Two other applicants held Yeobo by the arms, trying to stop him from acting violently in front of the shop owner.
"…But you were the ones who insulted him first, weren't you? You called him a criminal."
The one holding Park Yeobo's arm on one side had gray-dyed hair, a nose ring, and a tongue piercing. He looked like a carefree playboy. His expression was flashy and indifferent to everyone except beautiful women with good figures. He neither hated nor liked anyone in particular he just didn't want someone getting beaten to death on interview day and ruining the occasion.
"You guys talked to him like crap first. If it were me, I'd be pissed too. Though I wouldn't have the guts to do what he did… damn, this kid's something else."
The other male tattoo artist who was holding Yeobo's other arm chimed in, even giving a thumbs-up to the stoic young man standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by staff members sprawled across the floor. Most people in the capital rarely dared to do something this reckless but honestly, they had it coming.
After all, nearly everyone who came to apply had seen what happened. It was just a matter of who dared to speak up and who didn't. Most people in this line of work judged others only by skill and honesty, nothing else.
They didn't like having their dignity insulted but the staff members clearly didn't understand the temperament of people in the tattoo world.
"Alright. You can all leave for today. I'll pay today's wages along with medical expenses. I'll conduct the interviews for all the applicants myself. No need for any application forms."
Mr. Seo, the true owner, made the decision effortlessly, without dragging the matter out as if he could immediately tell who was suitable and who wasn't.
"B-But…"
The imposing man simply ordered the subordinates who had come with him to escort those staff members to the car. After that, they returned to help tidy up the shop. Meanwhile, the tattoo artists who had come to apply also helped gather the scattered items and restore the place to order once again.
Nearly ten applicants sat in a circle on the floor without any fuss, with Mr. Seo, the studio owner, sitting in the middle. He was the one who had invited the tattoo artists to sit down with him.
He spoke casually, asking this and that without any arrogance or rigid formality. Despite being someone who could simply point a finger and choose whoever he wanted to work with, he carried himself with the maturity of a true professional. He seemed both extremely kind and deeply intriguing at the same time.
"At this branch, I will accept only four artists. From the conversations we've had, I must apologize that I cannot take all of you. But your skills are truly impressive. When the opportunity arises, those who were not selected here are welcome to apply again when I open recruitment for other branches. Thank you very much."
The owner of Saw Bless stood up and announced the results immediately. From the portfolios photos and video clips of each artist's tattoo work it was clear that he had already made his choices. Today seemed more like an opportunity to listen to each person's vision and perspective.
"Lee Yeou 'Fox.' Your Old School and New School styles are very impressive."
"Kang Sango 'Shark.' I really like your minimal and realistic linework."
"Dong Cheongal 'Scorpion.' The only woman in this branch. Your Irezumi-style linework is the sharpest."
"And Park Yeobo. You can tattoo in almost every style, but what I like most is your scar work scarification, carving the skin without using ink. Also, I think commuting between your home and here would be quite difficult. Public transportation doesn't reach that area, and taxis rarely go there either. If you're willing to stay here eat and sleep here I would be very glad."
"…Yes."
"Congratulations. Welcome to the Saw Bless family, Gangnam District branch."
Yeobo had been sitting there listening to the other artists present their work with quiet fascination. People often called him rough or uncivilized and that was true. He was the kind of person who rarely spoke to anyone unless he was close to them.
Yet here, he found himself enjoying the presence of people who shared the same dream.
Tattoo artists who truly loved their craft didn't sit around criticizing or belittling someone else's work. Instead, they could lose themselves endlessly in the art together with others who felt the same passion.