K-pop idol group BTS member Jimin has recovered from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and was discharged from the hospital on Feb. 5 after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis.
“We would like to inform you that BTS Member Jimin’s quarantine has concluded after his surgery for acute appendicitis as of this early morning (February 5),” Big Hit Music, BTS’ agency, announced.
Jimin stayed in the hospital for seven days after testing positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis on Jan. 30.
Big Hit Music said Jimin “tested positive for COVID-19 and diagnosed with acute appendicitis on Sunday, January 30 and underwent surgery on Monday, January 31. He has since received inpatient care and tested negative on his PCR test before being discharged from the hospital.”
“Jimin showed no extraordinary symptoms during his hospital stay. He had a mild sore throat at the time of his admission but has since completely recovered. We also received word from the medical staff that his surgical site is quickly healing without any issues. Jimin is currently recuperating after being discharged from the hospital,” according to the agency.
It added, “We would like to express our gratitude to all the fans who have shown concerns for the artist’s health as well as those in the medical field who are doing their best to overcome COVID-19. We will continue to place the health of the artists as our top priority, and to vigilantly follow the health care guidelines.”
Since Jan. 19, at least 60 Korean stars, majority of whom are K-pop idols, have tested positive for COVID-19.
Kep1er’s Yujin and Dayeon
On Feb. 4, Wake One Entertainment and Swing Entertainment that Kep1er members Yuji and Dayeon tested positive for COVID-19.
This after Kep1er members Chaehyun and Youngeun tested positive for the virus on Jan. 27. In the announcement, the agencies said the two have recovered from COVID-19 on Feb. 3.
“However, Yujin and Dayeon, members of Kep1er, have additionally confirmed with COVID-19 diagnosis today. Both of them have completed their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. The rest of Kep1er members have received negative results as the quarantine has been lifted. The members have shown no infection symptoms such as fever and respiratory illness. Currently, Kep1er has suspended all upcoming schedules in order to take necessary measures,” they said.
Fromis 9’s Seoyeon
On Feb. 4, Pledis Entertainment said “that fromis_9 member Seoyeon has been confirmed with COVID-19 and there will be changes to fromis_9’s schedule.”
“Seoyeon visited a hospital on the evening of Thursday, February 3 after experiencing fatigue and itchy throat and was tested positive for COVID-19 on the rapid antigen test. She moved to a screening center to undergo a PCR test and was confirmed of COVID-19 on the morning of Friday, February 4. She is exhibiting symptoms no other than itchy throat and mild dizziness and currently waiting for treatment guidelines from the health authorities,” it said.
It added, “All fromis_9 members other than Seoyeon tested negative on the rapid antigen test on Thursday, February 3 and are showing no symptoms. The members have entered into preemptive self-quarantine and are currently waiting for additional instructions and information from the health center such as close contacts and additional PCR testings.”
CIX’s Bae Jin-young
K-pop boy band CIX member Bae Jin-young, former member of Wanna One, tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 4.
“CIX member Bae Jin-young showed intermittent coughing symptoms on the 3rd day after returning from the Lunar New Year holiday, and the self-diagnosis kit test resulted in a positive result. He immediately received a COVID-19 PCR test and was confirmed positive today (the 4th). Bae Jin-young has completed the second vaccination in October of last year,” said C9 Entertainment.
It added, “BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, and Hyunsuk did not overlap with Bae Jin-young but after returning from vacation, self-diagnosis kit tests were conducted and all were negative. Currently, Bae Jin-young has moved to a separate quarantine dormitory and the rest of the members are staying at the dormitory after quarantine has been completed.”
JUST B’s Lim Jimin and JM
Bluedot Entertainment announced on Feb. 5 that “we regret to inform you that Lim Jimin and JM of JUST B have tested positive for COVID-19. In response to the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, all members of JUST B, who have received their third dose of the vaccine, tested for the virus using an at-home test kit on Friday, February 4th. As a result, Lim Jimin and JM tested positive and immediately proceeded with a PCR test.”
It added, “On Saturday, February 5th, Lim Jimin and JM tested positive on the PCR test. The rest of the members (GEONU, Bain, DY, and SANGWOO), who had tested negative on the at-home test, were isolated immediately on Friday, February 4th, and are awaiting additional instructions from public health authorities.”
Meanwhile, P1Harmony's Intak tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 4. TV personality Jun Hyun-moo tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 4. He is one of the mainstays of the Korean shows “I Live Alone,” “Omniscient Interfering View” and “Boss in the Mirror.” Comedian Yang Se-hyung also tested positive for COVID-19.
Last Feb. 3, Korean actor Jung Il-woo was confirmed to have COVID-19. Musical actors Lee Choong-joo, Park Kang-hyun and Ock Joo-hyun also have the virus.
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.
YG Entertainment announced on Feb. 3 that members of Treasure, iKON and WINNER who were diagnosed with COVID-19 last month had already recovered. 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, other Korean stars who tested positive for COVID19 are 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.
Others who got the virus are The Boyz’s Hyunjae, Ju Haknyeon, Younghoon Eric and Sangyeon; 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.
According to Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea recorded a record 36,362 new COVID-19 cases on Feb. 5 to bring the total confirmed cases to 971,018.
Health authorities have recently declared that the highly contagious Omicron variant is now the dominant strain in South Korea.