Jungkook, Cha Eun-woo, and Others Controversy Over Visiting Itaewon Clubs During Social Distancing Period

Group BTS member Jungkook / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Idol group members Jungkook of BTS, Cha Eunwoo of ASTRO, Jaehyun of NCT, and Mingyu of SEVENTEEN have been suspected of visiting the Itaewon area in Seoul, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred during the recent golden holiday period.

According to a report by Dispatch on the 18th, these individuals, all born in 1997, visited two restaurants and entertainment venues located in Itaewon from the evening of the 25th to the early morning of the 26th of last month.

At that time, 'social distancing' was being enforced according to the guidelines of the quarantine authorities, and on the 6th, the first confirmed case of the Itaewon club COVID-19 cluster infection (Gyeonggi Yongin patient number 66) was reported.

The quarantine authorities advised people who visited Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 to refrain from going out.

Group ASTRO member Cha Eun-woo / Photo by Yonhap News

The media stated, "One of the entertainment venues they visited received a closure order as confirmed cases related to the Itaewon clubs surged," adding, "Jungkook, Cha Eunwoo, Jaehyun, and Mingyu all underwent COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and although all results were negative, considering the incubation period, they should be cautious for at least two weeks (until May 10)."

However, it has been confirmed that some of them continued their activities by appearing on broadcasts at the end of last month and early this month, which has sparked controversy.

Photo by BTS Jungkook Instagram

Recently, online communities have been flooded with eyewitness accounts claiming that idol group member A and another group member B were seen visiting Itaewon after the cluster infection incident. At that time, the agencies of A and B stated, "We cannot confirm matters related to the artists' private lives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.