Covid in K-pop: SHINee Key, labelmates Apink, The Boyz Jacob, Victon Sejun fall sick
It doesn’t look like the non-lethal but infectious Omicron outbreak will be dying out anytime soon. The new Covid-19 strain took over the K-pop industry in mid-January and infected more than 100 idols. However, now it is hindering idols’ important gigs as Blackpink’s Rose had to miss out on Paris Fashion Week, Cravity and Tempest’s releases were postponed while Loona had to skip the survival show ‘Queendom’ round 1. And now acts like SHINee’s Key and almost all of Apink test positive.
A couple of days ago, it was reported that two Apink members, four of five Itzy members, 11 of 12 Loona members, and almost all of the contestants of the survival show ‘The Origin’ tested positive for Covid-19. Well, the cases have crossed 24 idols for the first week of March with seven artists of IST Entertainment getting sick. While South Korea has implemented strict guidelines, it still allows K-pop idols to continue with their crowded gigs which have led to them getting infected.
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SHINee’s Key gets Covid-19
On March 2, SM Entertainment reported that SHINee’s Key had been diagnosed with Covid-19. He had felt unwell on March 1 and had taken a self-test. It showed positive and he immediately took a PCR test which has also come back positive on March 2. He has taken his second vaccine shot and will be suspending his activities at the moment.
Seven IST artists fall sick
On the other hand, IST Entertainment has shared that seven of its artists have fallen sick back to back. On March 1, Apink’s Chorong, Bomi and Namjoo had tested positive following Eunji and Hayoung’s diagnosis on February 28. This means five of six Apink members have Covid-19. The girl group was promoting their new release but fortunately ended their activities before falling sick. The next artist to test positive is their IST labelmate, The Boyz’s Jacob on February 28. Since he is not showing any symptoms, he will only be quarantined till March 5. He is the sixth The Boyz member to get Covid-19.
Similarly, at the same time, on February 28 late night, the seventh IST Entertainment artist to test positive was Victon’s Sejun. He was in Thailand for group activities and took a mandatory test for his flight on February 28. Unfortunately, his test came back positive and he is quarantined in Thailand. He has taken two vaccine shots and does not have any symptoms. The rest of the members tested negative and have returned to South Korea where they are quarantined as a precautionary method.
Covid hinders comeback promotions
While the K-pop industry was running smoothly in 2020 and 2021 despite the fatal Covid-19 strain, Omicron now seems to be creating havoc as releases and promotional activities are getting ruined. Super Junior’s Ryeowook is another idol to test positive on February 27 because of which he could not join his group’s comeback after a year. On February 26, Shinwon became the second Pentagon member to test positive following Jinho. We also have Haram and Sheon becoming the second and third Billlie members to get Covid-19 on February 24 and have halted their promotional activities for their second comeback.