Distinctive trajectories of the COVID-19 epidemic by age and gender: A retrospective modeling of the epidemic in South Korea

•The epidemic dynamics of COVID-19 by age and gender groups in South Korea are different.•The epidemic process of COVID-19 was driven by young people aged 20–39, with two peaks from February 19 to May 2, 2020.•The epidemic among elderly people declined steadily after March 15, 2020, despite large fluctuations in daily new cases among young people.•Elderly people can be effectively protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.