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CJ ENM closes building after employee tests positive for COVID-19

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CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul / Yonhap
CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul / Yonhap

By Kwak Yeon-soo

CJ ENM has temporarily closed its building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, for disinfection after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee, who was confirmed Saturday to have been infected with the coronavirus, was a junior producer for Olive TV's food-themed reality show "Food Bless You 2." The producer, who is in quarantine and receiving medical care, developed symptoms after returning from vacation in the U.S., March 18.

"An employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19. We have therefore closed CJ ENM Center for disinfection and ordered employees to leave the building," a company official said.

"All of our employees have been working from home since Feb. 27 unless it is absolutely necessary to come to the workplace. All visitors who enter the building have been getting their temperatures checked."

The company explained that right after the producer started experiencing symptoms and went to get tested, all the production staff who had direct contact with the producer went into self-isolation.

Poster for Olive TV's
Poster for Olive TV's "Food Bless You 2" / Courtesy of Olive TV
"Food Bless You 2" stars comedians Park Na-rae, Kim Sook, Song Eun-yi and Jang Do-yeon, none of who were in direct contact with the producer, but who all will be tested.

It is unclear when filming will be able to resume. The production staff said they will decide on whether to resume filming based on the COVID-19 test results, as the safety of the cast and crew was the priority. Meanwhile, the CJ ENM center will reopen today.

"Food Bless You 2" airs Thursdays at 7:50 p.m.

The entertainment and broadcasting industries are taking all appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Currently producers of TV shows are striving to ensure a safe production environment, through options such as filming without the audience present or suspending operations.

JTBC's hit show "Let's Eat Dinner Together," which follows celebrities ringing doorbells to people's homes to ask for an invitation to dinner, has halted production since Feb. 27.

KBS2' "Fly! Little Shooters," which features young children learning to play football, has suspended its production for the safety of the children and staff.

Earlier on March 2, tvN's street talk show "You Quiz on the Block" announced changes to its format due to the outbreak. The production team has decided to film the show in a studio with a minimum number of staff instead of shooting outside.



Kwak Yeon-soo yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr


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