Infections Surge at 3 English Academies in Seongnam, Bucheon, and Goyang... "Variant Analysis Underway" (Update)

On the 24th, amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19 variant viruses, passengers bound for China are lining up for boarding procedures at Terminal 1 departure hall of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As confirmed cases related to an English academy in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province continue to emerge, concerns about infections originating from the academy are growing.

On the 25th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters stated in a regular COVID-19 briefing, "According to investigations so far, additional links have been confirmed between the initial infection cases known to be from the English academy in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, and academies in Bucheon and Goyang-si, so the number of confirmed cases may increase."

Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "The three related academies are English academies mainly taught by native English-speaking instructors, and operate by having kindergarten and elementary school students learn English from native speakers."

Park said, "It is currently understood that the native English instructors had a gathering with acquaintances last week in Mapo-gu," adding, "The first recognized location regionally was the Seongnam academy, but there are a total of three English academies, including one in Bucheon and one in Goyang, operating in a similar manner."

He stated, "Additional transmission has occurred among instructors and students," and "We are conducting rapid contact tracing and management targeting the people who attended the gathering and the language academies where they work."

Analysis is currently underway to determine whether these cases involve variant virus infections.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, during contact tracing related to the English academy in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, nine additional confirmed cases were identified, bringing the cumulative total to 34. With additional confirmed cases emerging in Bucheon and Goyang-si, the infection is spreading.