Odd News
South Korean court upholds tattooing ban
The Constitutional Court in Seoul upheld a ban on tattooing last Thursday, confirming South Korea as the only developed country that permits no one but medical professionals to perform the procedure.
Tattoo artists derided the decision, calling it backward and lacking cultural understanding.
Despite the decades-old ban, South Korea has nearly 50,000 tattoo artists, who risk police raids and prosecution for practising their trade.
Violating the ban is punishable by fines of up to $41,300 and prison terms — usually two years, though the law provides for as much as life.
Tattooist associations have initiated a series of court actions since 2017 challenging the law, saying it breaches their freedom of expression and right to engage in an occupation.
In a 5-4 vote, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law was constitutional. It dismissed the suits, saying tattooing brought potential side effects and safety issues.
“The limited medical knowledge and skills involved in tattooing cannot ensure the levels of treatment that medical professionals can provide, treatment that may be needed before or after the procedure,” the verdict said.
A union of 650 tattoo artists issued a statement condemning the decision, calling it “retrograde” and “not worth a penny.”
“The court is still walking on four feet when all citizens walk upright,” Kim Do-yoon, the union’s chief, a renowned tattooist better known as Doy said. -arabnews.com
Odd News
NCA clamps down on 62 defaulting stations
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has directed non-
compliant FM Broadcasting Stations to immediately suspend operations on their respective frequencies for various infractions.
According to the NCA, the enforcement action has become necessary due to persistent violations of regulatory requirements, specifically Regulations 54 and 56 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991) and the Conditions of their FM Broadcasting Authorisations.
This action follows a directive issued by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, mandating the NCA to enforce applicable sanctions on stations found to be in violation of the regulations in the recent audit conducted by the NCA to ensure full compliance with licensing and operational requirements in the broadcasting sector.
Following this directive, the NCA has commenced enforcement of regulatory sanctions against defaulting entities identified in the Frequency Audit Report in phases.
The categorisation of infractions under the first phase is as follows:
Odd News
Loose goat evades pursuing police in Georgia
Police in Georgia are hot on the trail of a ‘hoofed Houdini’ — an escaped goat spotted running loose in Duluth.
The Duluth Police Department said on social media that numerous calls came on Tuesday, reporting a loose goat ‘trotting’ on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard ‘like it had somewhere very important to be.’
“Officers responded and attempted to corral the hoofed Houdini as it made its way toward Albion Farm Road, where it hopped a few fences and outsmarted us by disappearing into backyards,” the post said.
Police suspect the goat might be the same animal seen running loose recently in Suwanee.
“Apparently, it had unfinished business in Duluth,” police wrote.
