K-Dramas Affected By COVID-19 After Actors Heo Dong Won, Seo Sung Jong Test Positive

Several Korean stars have tested positive for COVID-19, causing a halt in the production of several dramas amid a surge in coronavirus cases in South Korea.

On Thursday, Heo Dong Won's management, Ace Factory, confirmed in a statement that the actor has contracted COVID-19. The actor is starring in romantic comedy K-drama “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol,” but filming has now been suspended and all crew members have gone into quarantine.

The actor previously appeared in the Lee Min Ho-starrer “The King: Eternal Monarch.”

News of Heo contracting the virus comes a day after it was announced that another KBS drama, “To All the Guys Who Loved Me,” halted production after actor Seo Sung Jong tested positive for COVID-19.

TvN drama “Start-Up,” which stars Bae Suzy and Nam Joo Hyuk, has also temporarily suspended production as “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” actress Seo Yi Sook has a role in the drama, Forbes reported.

Theatrical production “Jjambbong” joins the list of production shutdowns after actor Kim Won Hae, who worked with Seo in the play, was confirmed to have contracted the virus. Kim, who played dual roles in “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” has canceled all his scheduled activities, his agency SSGG Company said.

Kim’s manager tested negative for the virus.

Besides Kim, 14 other members of the theatrical production have tested positive for the virus.

“After a cast member of the play Jjamppong, which Kim Won Hae was to star in, tested positive for COVID-19, Kim Won Hae was not identified as a candidate to be tested. However, just in case, he received a test on August 19 and entered self-quarantine,” the 51-year-old actor's agency SSGG Company said in a statement.

“On the afternoon of August 20, Kim Won Hae was confirmed positive, and following the test result, we canceled all of his scheduled activities,” the statement continued. “In accordance with the guidelines set by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), he is currently in self-quarantine, and he will be transferred to a hospital once a sickbed is secured.”

Meanwhile, the theater company said in a statement that the practice rooms, located in Daehangno and Hansung University in Seoul, and the theater at Hansung University are currently closed.