Meet Junghyun Kim of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Junghyun Kim

JungHyun, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a Buddhist family, with my grandfather serving as a Jogye Order missionary. Since childhood, visiting temples was a natural part of my life. My uncle was a Korean painter, and these deep-rooted influences naturally led me to pursue a career as an artist. Attending an arts high school and later studying fine arts in university, I envisioned myself as an artist who could merge my Korean heritage with contemporary visual aesthetics.

During high school, I was introduced to the culture of body modification, which eventually led me to discover tattooing. It immediately resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to become a tattoo artist. From the start, I wanted my work to reflect my background—drawing inspiration from Buddhism and traditional Korean elements, while interpreting them through a modern lens.

In 2015, I officially began my career as a tattoo artist under the name PittaKKM. I opened my first studio, mizangwon, in Seoul in 2019, and in 2025, I officially launched nonfromseoul in LA. This new studio is a collaboration with @q_tattoos, and together, we aim to create a hub that bridges the cultures and artistic movements of Seoul and Los Angeles.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been an easy road. One of the biggest challenges was getting people to understand and accept my work, especially in the early days. My style was deeply rooted in Korean aesthetics—something that wasn’t commonly seen in the tattoo world at the time. Convincing people of its value and uniqueness was a struggle.

But in hindsight, that challenge became my greatest strength. It meant that I had something truly distinctive—something that set me apart. Over time, this uniqueness became the foundation of my identity as an artist and helped establish my name in the industry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work revolves around merging traditional Korean aesthetics with contemporary tattoo art. I specialize in bold color techniques and vibrant compositions, incorporating elements inspired by Korean folklore, Buddhist iconography, and historical art forms. What sets my work apart is my approach to reinterpreting these traditional motifs with dynamic colors and striking contrasts, creating tattoos that are both visually powerful and deeply meaningful.

My work is about reinterpreting Oriental, Korean, and Buddhist colors and patterns in my own way, translating them into the most modern form of visual art. I define my process as “I create traditions.” In past interviews, I’ve also described it as “modernized tradition.” Rather than simply replicating the past, I explore ways to evolve and adapt these visual narratives, ensuring they remain relevant in a contemporary artistic landscape.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a good mentor is extremely important. Networking also plays a role, but ultimately, everything comes down to yourself—understanding what you love, how you want to express it, and what sets you apart from others. Before looking for a mentor, you need to define your own artistic identity and vision.

Even if you don’t have a direct personal relationship with a mentor, I highly recommend finding an artist you admire and studying their journey. This doesn’t mean copying their work, but rather understanding how they started, how they developed their craft, and what steps they took to get to where they are today. Learning from their process can provide valuable insights for your own path.

In my case, I taught myself tattooing through independent study. I actively sought out well-known artists, got tattooed by them, and used those opportunities to ask questions and learn. When I found an artist whose work I admired, I didn’t stop at just appreciating their tattoos—I researched where they drew inspiration from, traced it back to its roots, and studied those original influences. That process helped me develop my own unique artistic approach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pittakkm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pittakkm/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@pittakkm?si=LI1K9U1otWf_CI5x

Image Credits
All the credits are belonging to me.