South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum tested positive for the coronavirus, his office announced on Thursday.
Kim had begun receiving treatment at home and the intra-agency anti-virus meetings would be temporarily led by other officials, his office added.
The official contracted the virus as daily infections hit unprecedented levels this week, driven by the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported Wednesday 198,803 new coronavirus cases as of, a day after the daily tallies hit a record of 219,241.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 8,394 nationwide after the agency announced 128 deaths.
Health officials estimated that the current wave will go on and peak at about 330,000 daily cases by mid-March.
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