More K-pop stars have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to the Omicron variant surge in South Korea.
ON Feb. 14, Yuehua Entertainment announced that all seven members of upcoming K-pop boy band Tempest have been confirmed to have COVID-19.
They are Hanbin, Hyungseop, Hyuk, Eunchan, Lew, Hwarang and Taerae. The agency said on Feb. 13, one of Tempest’s external staff was diagnosed with COVID-19 and all Tempest members underwent rapid antigen testing.
“After testing positive, all members immediately went to the hospital for PCR testing. As a result, today (Feb. 14), all members tested positive for COVID-19,” it said.
All Tempest members are fully vaccinated after completing their second vaccination. The agency said when there is a schedule, the members use self-test kits to confirm that they are negative of COVID-19.
“Currently, the members show fever and mild cold symptoms and are quarantined. Under the guidance of the authorities, all members are quarantined and resting for home treatment,” the agency said.
As a result, the agency added, “in consideration of the health and quarantine period of Tempest members, some promotion schedules for Tempest's debut album 'It's ME, It's WE' will be revised, and the album release date has been postponed to March 2 (Wednesday).”
Tempest’s debut album was originally set to be released on Feb. 21.
In addition, Dann, a member of K-pop boy band Kingdom, also tested positive for COVID-19.
GF Entertainment announced on Feb. 14 that Dann “developed mild cold symptoms on Feb. 12 and preemptively conducted a test using a self-test kit. After testing positive, he underwent a PCR test on Feb. 13, and the final result was positive at 11 p.m. on the same day.”
Dann is also fully vaccinated and currently has no no major health problems and is focusing on self-isolation.
It said the one-year anniversary fan meeting scheduled for Feb. 18 is in the process of being coordinated and will be re-announced later.
Including the eight, there are now at least 106 Korean stars, mostly K-pop idols, who have tested positive for COVID-19 since Jan. 19.
K-pop girl group ITZY’s Lia and Yeji, and boy band CNBLUE’s Yonghwa tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), increasing the number of Korean stars who got the virus to 98 since Jan. 19.
On Feb. 14, it was announced that K-pop girl group ITZY’s Yeji tested positive for the virus after Lia was confirmed to have it on Feb. 13. CNBLUE’s Yonghwa was also diagnosed with COVID-19 last Feb. 12.
Also testing positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 12 are K-pop boy band Cravity’s Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung, and Seongmin; upcoming K-pop group BLANK2Y’s Lee Young-bin, Kim Tae-woo, Park Si-woo and Park Dong-hyuk.
K-pop boy band 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Seulong and Jinwoon also got the virus as well as Wonwoo of Seventeen and Gunwoo of T1419, Korean TV show “Running Man” star Haha, ENHYPEN’s Sunoo, “Squid Game” star Heo Sung-tae, comedian Kim Jun-ho.
Those who have recovered from COVID-19 are T1419’s Sian; Fromis 9’s Seoyeon; CIX’s Bae Jing-young; JUST B’s Lim Jimin, Geonu, JM and Sangwoo; The Boyz members Eric, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Ju Haknyeon and Sangyeon; BTS’ Jimin; Kep1er members Chaeyun and Youngeun; iKON’s Chanwoo, Kim Jinhwan, Song Yunheong, Kim Donghyuk and Koo Jun-hoe; Treasure’s Choi Hyun-suk, Junkyu, Mashiho and Yoshi; WINNER’s Lee Seunghoon; WEi members Kim Dong-han, Yoo Yong-ha and Kang Seok-hwa; Cherry Bullet’s Bora; P1Harmony’s Intak; actor Jung Il-woo; Viviz’s SinB, Eunha and Umji (all former members of GFriend); and Momoland’s JooE.
Other Korean stars who tested positive for COVID-19 since Jan. 19 are “Squid Game” star Lee Byung-hun and his wife, actress Lee Min-jung; actor Lee Ji-hoon; Epik High’s Tablo; DAY6’s Wonpil; singer Kim Junsu; actress Park So-dam; TV personality Jun Hyun-moo (Feb. 4); comedian Yang Se-hyung; musical actors Lee Choong-joo, Park Kang-hyun and Ock Joo-hyun; and Kim Jae-hwan of the former boy band Wanna One.
Also testing positive for COVID-19 are 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; Brave Girls’ Yuna; comedian Jo Se-ho; 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.