Another member of K-pop boy band Stray Kids has been diagnosed with Covid-19, affecting the group’s promotions for their new album.
JYP Entertainment, the boy band’s management, announced on March 20 that Stray Kids member Seungmin, 21, “tested positive for Covid-19 on March 20th (Sun).”
“Seungmin been quarantining as a preemptive measure after testing negative on a PCR test on March 19th (Sat), and he tested positive on the afternoon of March 20th (Sun) on an additional PCR test,” the agency said.
JYP Entertainment said Seungmin is fully vaccinated “and as he is currently not presenting any symptoms, he is quarantining in accordance with the guidelines of the disease prevention authorities.”
“The Stray Kids members have been staying in separated living spaces since the afternoon of March 18th (Fri). All members will continue to focus on personal hygiene and monitor their health,” it added.
As a result, Stray Kids’ radio show appearances on March 21 and 22 on the SBS POWER FM Choi Hwa Jung's Power Time and MBC FM4U Kim Shin Young's Noon Song of Hope have been canceled.
“Additionally, regarding the VIDEO CALL & FANSIGN EVENT that was scheduled for March 26th (Sat), we will discuss with the record store and provide an updated notice about the modified date and details of the event,” it said.
Seungmin is the third member of Stray Kids to test positive after Han and Changbin. The agency said Changbin was diagnosed with Covid-19 on March 18 while Han tested positive on March 19.
The positive diagnosis for the three came at a bad time as Stray Kids, composed of eight members, just made their comeback on March 18 with the release of the new mini-album “Oddinary.”
At least 233 Korean stars, mostly K-pop group members, have tested positive for Covid-19 since Jan. 19.
South Korea is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. On March 20, the country recorded 334,708 new cases to bring the total confirmed cases to 9.37 million.