Tattoos are generally stigmatized in most of East Asia: China, Korea, Japan and cultures affected by these countries.<p>Although there are some ties to the past with tattoos predominantly being used by outlaws, criminals, prisoners, slaves (prisoners and slaves were branded with tattoos on the face to ensure people knew who they were and was also considered a punishment of its own) or soldiers (in certain periods of history, soldiers weren't respected in China and considered a lowly job as there was a high chance of death and they often were involved in pillaging in the more chaotic times), modern-day stigma is from criminals and gangsters who would use tattoos to differentiate themselves and show themselves as "hard and not to be messed with" or to inspire courage within themselves.<p>Nowadays its a bit more relaxed but even now people will hide tattoos in job interviews because it can mean an automatic rejection.