Lee Seok-hoon’s tattoos are documented in portraits and interviews showing lettering and images on his arms, back, waist and wrist. The reported details include Bible-verse text, praying hands and a date tied to his wife, Choi Seon-ah.
Lee has said that some arm tattoos remind him of people he loved during difficult periods. His interviews also record changing feelings: he considered a large cover-up, and later thought about removal after his son was born.
The Harper’s Bazaar arm tattoos
The Harper’s Bazaar portrait shows both arms. On the left side of the image are several smaller pieces: a dark geometric mark, a circular or line-based design, lettering and a small illustration near the wrist. The other arm has a denser black-and-grey tattoo around the upper forearm. The photo establishes their placement, though it does not identify every symbol.
The lettering and memorial meaning
A closer 2025 portrait makes the contrast between the large curved upper-arm design and smaller marks below it easier to see. Lee has said that some of the lettering on his body comes from Bible verses and that his arm tattoos help him remember people he loved.
He has spoken about his mother, who died while he was serving in the military. In later television coverage, Lee described how an arm tattoo helped him feel close to her during that difficult period. His explanation gives the work a personal context without identifying every visible line as a specific memorial.
The tattooed arms in the GQ portrait
In this GQ Korea portrait, Lee sits with his arms across his lap. The tattoos on both forearms are visible, though the wider framing softens their smaller details. One arm carries heavier shading; the other shows more open skin, lettering and compact marks.
Lee has said he began collecting tattoos after his debut, over time rather than as one planned project. The photographs fit that account: the two arms differ in density, and the designs are not mirrored.
The Bible verse and praying-hands imagery
A Radio Star composite includes an image of lettering across Lee’s upper back. The interview identifies it as a Bible verse and separately describes a praying-hands tattoo. Those are the clearest reported details for this area; the image itself is a television still rather than a close-up portrait.
Lee said he started getting tattoos during the hardest period of his life and connected them with endurance. After his son was born, he reconsidered the tattoos and thought about removing them. His account allows both feelings to stand: the designs hold memories, and his view of them changed with time.
The family date on his wrist
The SBS still shows Lee’s wrist and forearm beside a photo of him with a child, but the date itself is too small to read clearly. In interviews, he identified the inscription as February 3, 2011, the date he began dating Choi Seon-ah. He said he wanted a reminder because he could forget anniversaries.
A later iMBC interview connected the tattoo to a difficult period during military service, when he said he could not freely see people he missed. He described putting important memories on his body as healing. The interviews explain the date; the still does not provide a readable transcription.
What Lee Seok-hoon’s story actually confirms
Interviews and photographs document tattoos on both arms, the upper back, waist and wrist. Lee has described Bible-verse lettering, praying hands, memories of his mother and the date connected to his wife. The smaller arm symbols and some illustrations remain unidentified in the available images.
The photos vary in distance and lighting, so they do not provide a complete readable catalogue. Where Lee has explained a design, his words supply the context. Where he has not, the safest description is its visible shape and placement.
A layered personal history
Lee’s own account connects the tattoos to different memories, including his mother, his wife and difficult periods in his life. He has described the collection as part of his history rather than choosing one design as its defining piece. The photographs show how those separate tattoos sit across his body; they do not disclose every private meaning.
Watch the interview context
The GQ interview clip below adds the spoken context behind Lee’s comments on his tattoos.