One of the stars of Netflix’s global hit Korean series “Squid Game” and a member of K-pop boy band The Boyz have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Korean actor Wi Ha-joon initially tested positive using a self-test kit on March 1, according to his agency MS Team Entertainment on March 3.
He proceeded to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and it has been confirmed that he has COVID-19 on March 2.
He is currently under self-isolation. Wi Ha-joon is fully vaccinated and received his booster dose.
Wi Ha-joon canceled all his schedules related to Korean dramas “Little Women” and “Gyeongseong Creature.”
In “Squid Game,” he played the role of police officer Hwang Jun-ho who infiltrates the venue of the games in order to find his missing brother.
Last month, “Squid Game” actor Heo Sung-tae tested positive for COVID-19.
On the other hand, The Boyz member Sunwoo also tested positive for COVID-19, IST Entertainment announced on March 3.
It said that on March 2, Sunwoo had symptoms after a family acquaintance was confirmed to have COVID-19. Sunwoo tested negative through a self-test kit but his symptoms continued so he underwent a PCR test.
Sunwoo was notified that he is positive for COVID-19 in the PCR test on March 3. He currently has a mild sore throat and cough.
“After confirming the diagnosis, Sunwoo plans to focus on treatment until midnight on March 9,” the agency said. Health authorities impose a seven-day isolation period for fully vaccinated patients.
Last Feb. 28, The Boyz’s Jacob tested positive for COVID-19 in South Korea after finishing his vacation in Canada.
In addition, P.O, member of K-pop boy band Block B, tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the seventh cast member of the TV show “Amazing Saturday” to be diagnosed with the disease.
On March 3, it was announced that “Amazing Saturday” cast members SHINee’s Key, comedian Park Na-rae, rapper Han-hae, Boom, Nucksal and Kim Dong-hyun got COVID-19.
Pledis Entertainment announced that Seventeen member Hoshi was confirmed to have COVID-19 on March 3. The same day, Vernon fully recovered from COVID-19.
Korean drama “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” stars Kim Tae-ri and Choi Hyun-wook also tested positive for COVID-19.
At least 186 Korean stars including Sunwoo and Wi Ha-joon have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since Jan. 19.
South Korea is having a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. On March 3, South Korea recorded 198,803 new COVID-19 cases to bring the total confirmed cases to 3.69 million.