Nail stylists complain of regulation to transition committee

“Thank you, thank you very much. I almost gave up.”

Cha Jeong-gwi, 47, the owner of a nail salon in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, said this with a shaking voice after complaining of a regulation requiring a hairdresser certificate when working as a nail care professional.

The presidential transition committee on Tuesday said it will handle 94 regulations that impede the development of small and medium-size companies in an event at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul.

When Cha went to the event, she said she never expected that her complaint would be handled immediately. After reading the booklet on the table, she said she was impressed and shed tears, adding that she read “preparing subcategories of the beauty-related business” in the key improvement section of the booklet.

Those who work at nail salons like Cha need hairdresser certificates to do their jobs under the law. The Enforcement Decree of the Public Sanity Management Act, which was revised in 2009, puts finger and toe nail care into the "beauty-related" category just like dyeing and perms.

Lee Sang-jeong, 36, who also reported the problem to The Dong-A Ilbo, said in an excited voice, “After The Dong-A Ilbo covered the story, many people paid attention to the issue and it began to be addressed. Nail professionals can work with pride.” Lee, who also runs a nail salon, said many employees quit because they lacked hairdresser certificates.

Cha said it had been so heartbreaking to hear from nail specialists that they had to fear government crackdowns just because they had no certificates.

kyu@donga.com