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| Donghan of K-pop act WEi / Courtesy of OUI Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
The K-pop scene is on high alert after more than 10 singers have tested positive for COVID-19 in only one week, fueling worries over further spread.
On Tuesday, Donghan of K-pop boy band WEi was confirmed to have been infected with the virus. His record label, OUI Entertainment, said he got a positive PCR test result on Jan. 25, one day after testing negative via an at-home test.
"He filmed Watcha's 'Double Trouble' after testing negative on Jan. 24," the company said. "But he received a positive PCR test result on Jan. 25, so we immediately delivered this news to Watcha officials."
It added that two more WEi members ― Yongha and Seokhwa ― were also diagnosed with COVID-19.
"Double Trouble" is a show in which 10 K-pop stars pair up and stage duet performances. It stars 2AM's Lim Seul-ong, SF9's Inseong, KARD's Jeon Ji-woo and Hyolyn, a former member of the now defunct K-pop girl group Sistar, among others.
All staff members reportedly tested negative, but Hyolyn tested positive on Jan. 26.
"Hyolyn received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and tested negative through an at-home test, but a PCR test revealed that she has contracted the virus," her agency said.
Several singers represented by K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment were also confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
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| Yoshi of K-pop boy band TREASURE / Courtesy of YG Entertainment |
On Jan. 25, iKON's Ju-ne tested positive ― only a day after his bandmates Jinhwan, Yunhyeong and Donghyuk tested positive ― and so did TREASURE's Yoshi. On Jan. 24, WINNER's Seunghoon was diagnosed with COVID-19.
"Ju-ne and Yoshi have all been vaccinated, but they still got infected," YG said in a statement. "They are in fair condition. To curb the further spread of the virus, we disinfected our offices and had all our company officials and artists undergo COVID-19 testing. We will do our best to help our artists recover and combat the virus."
TREASURE is set to drop their new album, "THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER ONE" on Feb. 15, but YG did not reveal whether there will be any adjustment in the schedule.
In the case of K-pop act The Boyz, three of its members ― Younghoon, Hyunjae and Eric ― have contracted the virus. On Jan. 20, Super Junior's Eunhyuk also tested positive.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Korea's daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 14,000 for Wednesday as the Omicron variant sweeps across the nation. The country saw the first five-digit daily tally of 13,012 on Tuesday.
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