Rising number of South Korean beauticians providing illicit treatments in Hong Kong

A growing number of South Korean beauticians are providing illegal eyebrow or lip microblading treatments in Hong Kong, with the country’s consulate issuing a warning to its citizens that practising without a proper permit breaches local laws, following an arrest earlier this year.

Hong Kong immigration authorities made two arrests this year, including one last week witnessed by the South China Morning Post in which a South Korean make-up artist was apprehended while performing a treatment on a client in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Last month, the city’s beauty industry warned of clandestine operations by visiting beauticians that hurt local businesses and raised concerns about the lack of aftercare by those who provided treatments on short-term trips.

In early February, an industry insider reported a case to immigration authorities, and subsequently learned that a South Korean make-up artist was arrested on criminal charges.

After the arrest, the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong issued a notice to its citizens on February 25, warning them not to provide illegal services in the city.

“Driven by the recent popularity of ‘K-beauty’, there has been an increase in cases where beauty professionals attempt to provide short-term services abroad – such as make-up application, eyebrow tattooing and lip tattooing – without a valid visa.