Distribution of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants in South Korea 2022, by subvariant

As of December 21, 2022, around 52 percent of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases diagnosed in South Korea belonging to the dominant Omicron strain were identified as belonging to the subvariant BA.5. A month prior, BA.5 made up 86 percent of cases. 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. BN.1 is a mutation of the sub-variant BA.2.75, and thus far shown faster spread and an increased immune avoidance. Though it only emerged in late 2022, it quickly became a major sub-type in Korea. South Korea's handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was initially widely praised, though the government's handling of vaccine distribution has been criticized.

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