Five of the J-pop group’s 11 members have tested positive for the coronavirus, the group’s agency, Lapone Entertainment, revealed in a statement on its website on August 15.
As a result JO1 will not appear at KCON LA, the K-pop festival and convention marking its 10th anniversary in Los Angeles this weekend.
The first member of JO1 to test positive for COVID-19 was Sato Keigo, who reported symptoms last Friday. After he tested positive, Lapone Entertainment said, the rest of the group conducted tests, revealing that four more had also contracted the virus: Takumi Kawanishi, Sukai Kinjo, Issei Mamehara, and Junki Kono.
KCON has also shared the news of JO1’s withdrawal from the KCON LA line-up, issuing a statement that said: “After the discussion of the matter with the artist’s agency, we decided not to make their attendance considering the health of our fans, artists, and staff [sic] as the top priority.”
KCON said refunds will not be offered due to this change in the line-up. See the statement below:
JO1 was formed from the 11 highest-ranking trainees from the first season of the Japanese edition of reality TV talent competition Produce 101. They were scheduled to appear on the Sunday (August 21) of KCON LA alongside K-pop acts LOONA, NCT DREAM, NMIXX, P1Harmony, STAYC, The Boyz, TO1 and WJSN.
KCON 2022 LA CHANGES IN THE LINEUP pic.twitter.com/yEhG2KUpGm
— KCON official (@KCON_official) August 15, 2022
Be first to comment