Kwon Eun-bi, The Boyz’ Ju Haknyeon test positive for Covid-19

Singer Kwon Eun-bi, left, and Ju Haknyeon of The Boyz [ILGAN SPORTS]

Covid-19 continues to strike the K-pop industry, with singer Kwon Eun-bi and The Boyz’ Ju Haknyeon confirmed to have the contracted virus on Thursday.

“Kwon tested positive on the afternoon of Jan. 27,” Kwon’s agency Woollim Entertainment said in a statement. “Kwon has received two shots of the vaccine, but one of the dancers she was working with on her upcoming song tested positive first. Kwon was ordered to get a PCR test as she was in close contact with the dancer and tested positive later that day. She has halted all upcoming plans and is following the healthcare authorities’ guidelines.”

The agency said that Kwon only has a sore throat and that other crew members are waiting for test results.

Kwon was a member of girl group IZ*ONE after ranking No. 7 in Mnet’s hit audition program “Produce 48” (2018), making her one of the final 12 members of the group. Since the group's disbandment in April last year, Kwon has been going solo.

Ju Haknyeon is the fourth member of the 11-member boy band The Boyz to test positive with the virus, its agency IST Entertainment said. Hyunjae, Eric and Younghoon were confirmed previously this week.

The remaining seven members and the crew tested negative.

“We will have everyone undergo a strict quarantine with consideration for the virus’s incubation period,” IST said. “Everyone will regularly take PCR tests and self-test kits and we will let you know if anything happens.”

The four members who have the virus are not showing any particular symptoms and are currently self-quarantining.

The Boyz debuted in 2017, consisting of members Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Ju Haknyeon, Sunwoo and Eric. It gained more popularity after winning Mnet's music competition show "Road to Kingdom" (2020).

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]