[Full Text] 'Itaewon Idol' BTS Jungkook's Side Confirms "Visited Itaewon... Reflecting"

BTS Jungkook / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Jungkook (23, real name Jeon Jung-kook), a member of the idol group BTS, confirmed, "It is true that Jungkook visited Itaewon."

On the 18th, BTS’s agency Big Hit Entertainment (Big Hit) stated, "At the time of Jungkook’s visit, he did not go to the locations that became problematic due to confirmed cases in early May, and it was about a week before the first confirmed patient went to Itaewon."

Big Hit added, "Since he voluntarily took measures such as undergoing a COVID-19 test in accordance with government guidelines, we judged that it was not appropriate to publicly disclose the artist’s personal daily life."

They continued, "However, this judgment is inexcusable as the agency failed to clearly recognize the seriousness of social distancing and prioritized protecting the artist’s privacy. We sincerely apologize to everyone."

Furthermore, "On the evening of April 25, Jungkook visited a restaurant and bar located in Itaewon with acquaintances. After the visit, he showed no symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever, voluntarily underwent testing at a screening clinic, and tested negative," they added.

Big Hit also stated, "Currently, the artist himself is deeply reflecting on not fully participating in the social efforts for social distancing."

Earlier that day, Dispatch reported, "From the evening of April 25 to the early morning of April 26, four idols from the '97 group' gathered in Itaewon," revealing that the four idols were BTS’s Jungkook, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, NCT’s Jaehyun, and SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu.

Meanwhile, since the first confirmed patient who visited Itaewon clubs on the 6th, the COVID-19 cluster infection has spread nationwide, including Seoul and the metropolitan area, as well as Jeju, Busan, and Chungbuk.

Accordingly, Seoul City has been expanding diagnostic testing for all individuals who visited clubs and nearby establishments in Itaewon from April 24 to May 6.

The following is the full official statement from Big Hit Entertainment

This is Big Hit Entertainment.

We would like to share our position regarding BTS member Jungkook’s visit to Itaewon, Seoul.

First, we sincerely apologize for the delayed recognition that our response to multiple media inquiries last week about Jungkook’s visit to Itaewon was problematic.

It is true that Jungkook visited Itaewon. However, at the time of his visit, he did not go to the locations that became problematic due to confirmed cases in early May, and it was about a week before the first confirmed patient went to Itaewon. Also, since he voluntarily took measures such as undergoing a COVID-19 test in accordance with government guidelines, we judged that it was not appropriate to publicly disclose the artist’s personal daily life.

However, this judgment is inexcusable as the agency failed to clearly recognize the seriousness of social distancing and prioritized protecting the artist’s privacy. We sincerely apologize to everyone.

On the evening of Saturday, April 25, Jungkook visited a restaurant and bar located in Itaewon with acquaintances. After the visit, he showed no symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever, voluntarily underwent testing at a screening clinic, and tested negative. Currently, the artist himself is deeply reflecting on not fully participating in the social efforts for social distancing.

Big Hit is doing its best to follow COVID-19 related guidelines and preventive measures such as everyday social distancing. We will strictly comply to prevent such issues from happening again. We apologize for causing concern to fans and many others.

Sincerely, Big Hit Entertainment

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