Chinese Tattoo Shop Fully Tattooed a 14-Year-Old — Then Refused to Pay for Removal
Ms. Gao, a migrant worker from Jiangxi, had been looking forward to a summer reunion with her 14‑year‑old son in Hangzhou. Instead, she got a shock.
Her son had secretly gotten both legs fully tattooed – from ankle to hip.
The boy is a sports talent – a track athlete who had already been accepted to a high school back home. But when Ms. Gao asked the school about his tattoos, she was told that he should remove them within three years. Why? Because as a sports talent aiming for a sports university in the future, showing up with two fully tattooed legs would definitely not be acceptable.
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The shop's response: "He's 1.83 meters"
Ms. Gao marched straight to the tattoo parlor: Why didn't you check his ID?
The shop owner, Mr. Wu, said the tattoo artist "was careless" and didn't realize the boy was a minor. The reason? The 14‑year‑old is 183 cm tall – about six feet.
But here's the twist: the shop did make him sign a commitment letter – a waiver stating he took full responsibility, and explicitly declaring that he was over 18. Mr. Wu is now holding onto that document like a shield.
¥100,000 to erase the ink
Ms. Gao consulted a top hospital. The estimate: ¥100,000 to ¥120,000 – roughly $14,000 to $17,000. Each session costs about ¥10,000, and she was told it would take 10 to 14 sessions to fully remove the tattoos.
She says the tattoos have caused her son emotional harm – and left her with a massive financial burden.
Mr. Wu called her demand for ¥200,000 in compensation "unreasonable" and suggested she take the case to court.
Local market regulators have stepped in, saying they will investigate, issue penalties if rules were broken, and try to mediate.
Online reactions: divided
The story has sparked heated debate online.
Some sided with the mother:
"A minor's signature is worthless. The shop should have checked his ID. End of story."
Others felt the boy should take responsibility:
"At 183 cm, he looks like an adult. You can't blame the shop for not asking."
And some pointed to the bigger picture:
"Now he's panicking. But where was his panic when he was getting tattooed?"
"Don't judge others until you've walked in their shoes. That mother is suffering."
What do you think?
A 14‑year‑old who looks like an adult. A tattoo shop that didn't ask for ID. A mother facing a ¥100,000 bill to save her son's athletic future.
Who should pay?
Source: 新闻坊
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