Han So Hee, who used to turn heads with her bold, tattooed look before she became famous, recently opened up about why she decided to get rid of most of her ink. She's known for her softer, more delicate vibe on screen these days, but she admits it took some tough choices to get there—especially as she gears up to promote her new film, "Project Y."

Fans have always noticed the dramatic shift from her edgy, tattoo-heavy days to her current image. Some even liked how different she seemed from the typical mainstream actress. But in a recent interview, Han got real about it. She said it wasn't so much about changing her image—it was more about what worked for her job.

She told Koreaboo she hasn't erased every tattoo, but most are gone or faded now, just to avoid headaches on set."It really hurts to remove, like seriously. I still have some, but I removed them to a point where they wouldn't interfere with work. These days, the technology is so good. There are tattoo stickers and things like that, so I use those to make up for it."

Once she started acting more, Han realized visible tattoos just didn't fit with a lot of roles or costumes. She couldn't wear certain dresses. And she added,"I couldn't wear dresses [with the tattoos]. There's diversity in the characters I play, but as you know, having tattoos on my arms felt like a disadvantage in that sense, so I removed them."

News1 reported that Han doesn't see this as some forever decision either. She figured she could always get new tattoos down the road if she wanted. "Back then, I thought I could get them back later, so for now, it made sense to remove them for work. And honestly, it hurt a lot," she said.

So yeah, it stung—literally and figuratively—but Han approached it practically. The tattoos held significance for her, yet she opted for adaptability over intransigence, particularly in a field where appearances can either create opportunities or hinder them.

Currently, Han So Hee is busy getting ready for Project Y's release. The movie stars her close friend Jeon Jong Seo and comes out January 21, 2026. As the premiere gets closer, Han's story is a peek at the behind-the-scenes choices actors make as their careers change.