By Lee Hyo-jin Concerns are mounting over a recent surge in cases of COVID-19 variants. This surge poses a risk that possibly more transmissible mutated viruses may become the dominant strains in some regions. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 97 more cases involving new variants as of Tuesday, bringing the total caseload to 632 since the country confirmed its first mutated virus cases from Britain last December. Among the new infections were 75 local transmissions and 22 cases from overseas. Of the total 632 cases, the vast majority, 551, were of the British variant, 71 cases were of the South African variant, and another 10 were of the Brazilian variant.