Distribution of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants in South Korea 2022, by origin
South Korea's handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was initially widely praised, though the government's handling of vaccine distribution has been criticized.
For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.
As of December 21, 2022, around 57 percent of domestic coronavirus (COVID-19) cases diagnosed in South Korea belonging to the dominant Omicron strain were identified as belonging to the subvariant BA.5. Around 31 percent of imported cases belong to the same subvariant. While domestic cases were overwhelmingly of the BA.5 subvariant, imported cases were more varied, with the recent BA.2.75 mutation referred to as BN.1 accounting for a significant share of cases brought into the country. Tracking of BA.5 first began in April 2022, after which it quickly became the dominant strain across many countries worldwide as it has proven more transmissible than prior subvariants. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.