Actress Lim Ji Yeon has revealed that she recently underwent a procedure to remove an eyeliner tattoo she had been living with since her early twenties, calling it a long-standing beauty decision that ultimately became a challenge in her acting career.

The actress shared the story during a recent appearance on the popular South Korean talk show You Quiz on the Block, where she opened up about the unexpected downside of a beauty trend that was hugely popular when she was younger.

According to Lim Ji Yeon, she got a semi-permanent eyeliner tattoo when she was around 20 years old. At the time, cosmetic tattoo procedures were extremely fashionable, and many young women chose them as a way to save time on daily makeup routines.

However, the actress joked that her experience did not quite go as advertised.

“Semi-permanent makeup was really popular back then. I got an eyeliner tattoo, but I don’t know if it wasn’t actually semi-permanent because it never disappeared,” she explained, drawing laughter from viewers.

While she had wanted to remove the tattoo for years, the process was not as simple as she had hoped. Lim Ji Yeon admitted that she repeatedly postponed the procedure because of the recovery period involved.

She revealed that the removal process can cause significant swelling around the eyes, making it difficult to schedule around work commitments and public appearances.

“It swells up a lot when you remove it, so I couldn’t do it until now,” she said.

What began as a beauty convenience eventually turned into a professional obstacle as her acting career continued to grow. Unlike everyday makeup, a tattooed eyeliner remains visible regardless of the character an actor is portraying, creating additional challenges for makeup artists trying to transform an actor’s appearance for different roles.

Lim Ji Yeon explained that makeup teams frequently had to spend extra time concealing the tattoo whenever she took on new projects.

“For every character, they had to try to cover up the eyeliner. It became inconvenient, so I finally removed it,” she revealed.

The confession resonated with many viewers, especially those familiar with the beauty trends of the late 2000s and early 2010s, when semi-permanent makeup procedures experienced a surge in popularity across South Korea and other parts of Asia.

Fans also noted that this was not the first time the actress had spoken about the issue. During a previous YouTube appearance, she mentioned that she had been considering removing the tattoo but had not yet committed to the procedure. As a result, many viewers were surprised to learn that she had finally gone through with it after years of hesitation.

Lim Ji Yeon’s candid story quickly sparked discussion online, with many fans praising her honesty about a beauty decision she now regrets. Others shared their own experiences with cosmetic tattoos and semi-permanent makeup procedures that lasted far longer than expected.

Although the eyeliner tattoo may have once been considered fashionable, the actress now appears relieved to have left it behind. For someone whose career depends on transforming into different characters, removing the decades-old tattoo was less about beauty and more about giving herself greater flexibility as a performer.

The revelation offered fans a rare glimpse into the practical challenges actors face behind the scenes—proving that even a small beauty choice made years ago can have an unexpected impact on a career many years later.