Members of K-pop boy bands WINNER, iKON test positive for COVID-19


Four K-pop idols belonging to boy bands WINNER and iKON have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as South Korea recorded more than 7,500 new cases on Jan. 24.

YG Entertainment announced that its artists, Lee Seunghoon of WINNER and Kim Jinhwan, Song Yunhyeong and Kim Donghyuk of iKON, have contracted COVID-19.

(Clockwise from top left) WINNER's Lee Seunghoon, and iKON's iKON’s Kim Jinhwan, Kim Donghyuk and Song Yunhyeong (Instagram, Twitter)

The agency said Seunghoon tested positive for the virus on Jan. 24.

"Lee Seunghoon confirmed positive in the self-test kit that was preemptively conducted the day before his personal filming schedule,” YG Entertainment said.

It added, “After that, all WINNER members stopped their scheduled schedules and conducted PCR tests and only Lee Seunghoon was finally confirmed.”

“Lee Seunghoon has completed the vaccination. He is in good health even now as he did not have any suspicious symptoms before the diagnosis,” said the agency, confirming that Seunghoon’s positive case is a breakthrough infection.

"We will spare no effort to support Lee Seung-hoon's speedy recovery as well as the health and safety of our artists," the agency said.

On Jan. 23, YG Entertainment announced that iKON’s Kim Jinhwan, Song Yunhyeong and Kim Donghyuk tested positive for COVID-19.

"They first confirmed positive in the COVID-19 19 self-test kit test conducted on Jan. 22 after feeling mild cold symptoms. After that, all iKON members immediately stopped their scheduled schedules and conducted PCR tests, and three people were confirmed except for Bobby, Ju-ne and Chanwoo, who each tested negative during self-isolation,” the agency said.

"We will spare no effort to support Kim Jinhwan, Song Yunhyeong, and Kim Donghyuk's fast recovery as well as the health and safety of our artists,’ it added.