Actor Jung Il-woo, K-pop boy band P1Harmony's Intak and more Korean stars have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to infect thousands of people in South Korea.
Health authorities have declared that the Omicron variant is now the dominant strain in South Korea.
On Feb. 4, South Korea recorded 27,283 new COVID-19 cases to bring the total confirmed cases to 934,656 based on data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Since Jan. 19, more than 50 Korean stars, majority of which are K-pop idols, have tested positive for the virus.
Jung Il-woo, known for the Korean dramas “Haechi” and “Moon Embracing the Sun,” was confirmed to have COVID-19 on Feb. 3.
"After filming for 'SNL Korea Season 2' on Jan 30 and 31, we were contacted that a confirmed case had occurred among the staff. We conducted a PCR test and confirmed the diagnosis on Feb. 3. Jung Il-woo completed the third vaccination and there are no major symptoms," according to his agency.
P1Harmony's Intak tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 4. According to FNC Entertainment, during Intak's visit to his family over the Lunar New Year, one family member had cold symptoms. Intak tested positive for COVID-19 using a self-test kit and proceeded to undergo PCR test and was confirmed to have the virus on Feb. 4. Intak has symptoms of a sore throat, according to the agency.
Musical actors have also been confirmed to have COVID-19. They are Lee Choong-joo, Park Kang-hyun and Ock Joo-hyun.
K-pop idols who were announced on Feb. 3 to have COVID-19 are Kim Jae-hwan of the former boy band Wanna One, Sian of T1419 and Cherry Bullet’s Bora.
On Feb. 3, YG Entertainment announced that the members of Treasure, iKON and WINNER have recovered from COVID-19. They are They are iKON’s Chanwoo, Kim Jinhwan, Song Yunheong, Kim Donghyuk and Koo Jun-hoe; Treasure’s Choi Hyun-suk, Junkyu, Mashiho and Yoshi; and WINNER’s Lee Seunghoon.
K-pop boy band WEi members Kim Dong-han, Yoo Yong-ha and Kang Seok-hwa have also recovered from COVID-19.
Since Jan. 19, Korean stars who tested positive for COVID-19 are BTS’ Jimin; Momoland’s JooE; Drippin’s Hwang Yun-seong, Joo Chang-uk, Lee Hyeop and Cha Jun-ho; actor Lee Sang-yoon; Korean drama “Mouse” star Park Ju-hyun; Oh My Girl’s Yubin; Viviz’s SinB, Eunha and Umji (all former members of GFriend); Brave Girls’ Yuna; and comedian Jo Se-ho.
Other Korean stars who have COVID-19 are The Boyz’s Hyunjae, Ju Haknyeon, Younghoon Eric and Sangyeon; Kep1er’s Kim Chae-hyun and Seo Young-eun; former IZ*ONE member Kwon Eun-bi; Weeekly’s Jaehee; former Sistar member Hyolyn; Super Junior’s Eunhyuk; EPEX’s A-Min, Wish and Jeff; and musical actors Seo Kyung-soo, Park Kang-hyun and Jeong Sun Ah.