By Kim Jae-heun

A recent infection cluster linked to nightclubs and bars in Itaewon, Seoul, has caused a ripple effect with the laying off of a considerable number of employees at luxury boutiques in Lotte Department Store in Myeong-dong, Seoul, that is stirring controversy here.

According to Lotte Department Store, a male employee working at the store of Italian luxury brand Gucci tested positive for COVID-19 last week.The department store franchise immediately shut down the store in the morning on the same day. Lotte also closed down the whole building for disinfection. However, in light of speculation about the infected worker's sexuality, a number of luxury brand stores are said to be preparing thorough staff reshuffles because they suspect some their employees to be homosexual.

"We have never heard of any such story and we are not involved in staffing of luxury boutiques at our outlets," a Lotte Department Store official said. "However, what we can confirm is that other employees who worked with the man on May 5 and 6 have all tested negative for COVID-19 and are currently quarantined at home." Read more via Korea Times