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The death of MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna, initially kept private by her family, has now been confirmed as a suicide. South Korean news outlet Maeil Shinmun revealed that the 2024 incident was tied to workplace bullying, sparking public outrage.
Oh Yoanna, who joined MBC as a freelancer in May 2021, reportedly left a detailed note on her phone outlining the harassment she faced. According to Maeil Shinmun, the note accused two senior weathercasters of consistent bullying since March 2022.
The late weathercaster’s note described how one colleague blamed her for their own mistakes, while another grew hostile when she corrected inaccurate weather reports. The bullying extended beyond work hours, with Oh Yoanna being forced to stay late for “lessons” from her colleagues.
The harassment intensified when she was invited to appear on tvN’s You Quiz On The Block. Instead of support, her colleagues ridiculed her, undermining her confidence. Texts and audio recordings left by Oh Yoanna reportedly capture the toxic environment, including comments about her “lack of skills.”
#YouQuiz #YouQuizOnTheBlock
The most common thing I’ve been hearing lately = “I really enjoyed watching You Quiz”
🫣🫢🥹🙇🏻♀️🙏🏻
It was such a huge honor to have the opportunity to introduce the profession of weathercasting. Truly, a moment I’ll cherish forever ✏️ As someone who never feels like I’m good enough, these memories come across as even more precious. 🥹
A big thank you to the production team and my sunbae–nims! I will continue to learn humbly and do my best! Please keep supporting me in the new year as well. 🐰
MBC has since released a statement acknowledging their failure to address the situation:
“We have not yet fully grasped the situation. We will right all wrongs that we may have done and accept whatever criticism we deserve.”
The broadcaster also confirmed that two of its five current weathercasters did not attend Oh Yoanna’s funeral, further fueling public criticism.
A weathercaster from another network commented on the situation, saying:
“This is what happens when broadcasters do not intervene in the hierarchical ‘seniority culture’ forming among freelancers based on when they started working.”
The systemic issue of seniority culture in the broadcasting industry has been a long-standing concern, and Oh Yoanna’s tragic story has reignited discussions about the need for change.