A 10-year-old boy from Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand has been left traumatized after being bullied by his peers who used a makeshift tattoo gun to inscribe a derogatory term on his forehead and crude designs on his arms and legs. The incident, which quickly gained attention on social media, led a local tattoo artist to intervene and offer assistance.
The boy, identified as Kao, was reportedly following the instructions of older children when the incident occurred. Images of his injuries circulated on social media platforms, drawing the attention of Janjira “Frame” Kaewket, a local eyebrow tattoo artist who owns the beauty salon ‘Chaiyaphum Beautiful Eyebrows’ in Kanchanaburi.
Kaewket was appalled by the incident and offered to remove the tattoos free of charge using laser removal treatment. She expressed shock that someone would dare to tattoo such a young child, but assured Kao that the tattoos could be easily removed as they were done using a rudimentary tool, a sewing needle attached to a pen.
The removal process, which took place on October 4, involved Kao wearing goggles and undergoing a painful treatment. The actual removal took only 15 minutes, but the anesthetic had to be left on for about an hour due to Kao’s young age. Kaewket managed to remove over ten spots on Kao’s legs, in addition to the derogatory term on his forehead.
The tattoos were not deeply inked, and it is expected that they will be completely removed after approximately three sessions. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many users branding it as “inhumane” and expressing sympathy for Kao.
Kaewket’s act of kindness has been widely praised, with many referring to her as a “good Samaritan”. Her actions have led to a wave of positive comments, with one user stating, “Not all heroes wear capes,” and another thanking her for her good-heartedness.
This incident follows a similar case in August, where a Thai father lodged a complaint against a tattoo parlor in Chon Buri for tattooing his 14-year-old son’s torso without parental consent. The parlor was found to have tattooed several minors without checking their ages or seeking consent, in violation of Thailand’s Public Health Act, which requires individuals under 18 to have parental consent to get a tattoo.