Jeehye Shin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jeehye, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I believe the most important thing is balance—too much of one without the others can tip everything off. That said, integrity is where I feel the strongest, because intelligence and energy only matter if people can trust the way you use them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a tattoo artist who focuses on clean, thoughtful designs with a personal touch. My work is illustration-driven and detail-oriented, but never too serious—I like tattoos to feel natural, alive, and genuinely connected to the person wearing them.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a kid, I thought my mom’s taste was my taste—she was my biggest influence. But as I grew up, I realized I’ve gone in almost the opposite direction. It turns out figuring out who I am also meant figuring out who I’m not.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I don’t remember exactly how many years ago, but I used to struggle a lot with my own personality—things like being overly perfectionistic, worrying too much, and sometimes overthinking how I relate to people. For a long time, I wanted to fix those traits because they felt heavy and exhausting. Eventually, though, I realized that constantly fighting against who I am only made things harder. So I decided to accept those parts of myself instead. That shift didn’t make my worries disappear, but it gave me more peace and resilience. Now, I see those traits as part of my nature, and instead of resisting them, I focus on channeling them in ways that actually help me grow.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public me isn’t a lie—it’s just the highlight reel. The full story is something only a few get to see.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Today, I’m drawing—just as I always have. It’s one of the rare moments when I can focus completely. I’m also continuing to tattoo, knowing that it may not bring immediate rewards, but in 7–10 years, this persistence will show in how much I’ve grown.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: studioshinink
