BTS singer Jimin tests positive for COVID-19, has surgery for appendicitis
SEOUL – BTS singer Jimin is the latest member of the K-pop group to test positive for COVID-19.
According to Reuters, the 26-year-old was hospitalized Sunday with abdominal pain and “a mild sore throat.” He was given a coronavirus test, which came back positive, and had surgery for appendicitis, Big Hit Music said in a statement.
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South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency described the singer’s condition as stable on Monday. He is expected to remain in the hospital for several days, his management agency said.
The news comes just weeks after BTS members RM, Jin and Suga tested positive for the virus after performing in the United States, Reuters reported.
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On Sunday, South Korea reported more than 17,532 new coronavirus cases, setting a new daily record, according to Reuters. Nearly 86% of South Koreans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Oxford University’s Our World in Data project reported.
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 06: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE.) BTS attends 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at the Forum on December 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
UNSPECIFIED – UNSPECIFIED: In this screengrab released on November 08, BTS accept the win for Best Virtual Live at the MTV EMA’s 2020. The MTV EMA’s aired on November 08, 2020. (Handout/Courtesy of MTV via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: Members of BTS and CEO of Big Hit Entertainment Lenzo Yoon attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
HONG KONG, HONG KONG – DECEMBER 14: V, Suga, Jin, JungKook, Jimin, J-Hope and RM of BTS attend the 2018 Mnet Music Awards in Hong Kong at AsiaWorld–Expo on December 14, 2018 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: BTS attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 20: Music group BTS performs at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: BTS attends the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: (L-R) Suga, Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, and J-Hope of music group BTS attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – JANUARY 15: South Korean boy band BTS attend the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) V, Suga, RM, Jungkook, Jin, Jimin, J-Hope of BTS visit The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show at Z100 Studio on April 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 01: (L-R) Jimin, Jungkook, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, RM, and V of BTS accept the Top Duo/Group award onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 01, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) Jimin, J-Hope, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga, and V of BTS perform onstage during the 2021 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for MRC)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 01: (L-R) Jungkook, Jin, V, RM, Jimin, J-Hope and Suga of BTS accept the Top Duo/Group award during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: BTS performs onstage during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for dcp)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 07: (L-R) V, SUGA, Jin, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, and Jungkook of BTS attend the 2019 Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch at Soho House on December 07, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 01: BTS attends the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for dcp)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: Music group BTS performs onstage during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
UNSPECIFIED: (L-R) In this screengrab released on March 14, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jimin, and RM of BTS perform onstage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards broadcast on March 14, 2021. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 06: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE.) (L-R) RM, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jungkook, Jimin, and Jin of BTS perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at the Forum on December 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS attend the 2021 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for MRC )
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: BTS poses in the press room during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 20: BTS performs during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 10: BTS attends KCON 2014 – Day 2 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 20: Musical group BTS attend the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for dcp)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS, winners of the Favorite Pop Song, Favorite Pop Duo or Group, and Artist of the Year awards, pose in the press room during the 2021 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for MRC)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 15: (L-R) Kim Tae-hyung, Park Ji-min, Jungkook, Suga, Kim Seok-jin, RM and J-Hope of BTS perform on "Good Morning America" on May 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 31: BTS attend Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020 on December 31, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions )
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 31: BTS performs during the Times Square New Year’s Eve 2020 Celebration on December 31, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin, and SUGA of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the "Today" Show at Rockefeller Plaza on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
SAITAMA, JAPAN – DECEMBER 12: (L-R) V, Suga, Jin, JungKook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of South Korean boy group BTS attend the 2018 Mnet Music Awards FANS’ CHOICE in Japan at Saitama Super Arena on December 12, 2018 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images)
