The late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna’s punitive contract and workplace harassment allegations surface through an exclusive report by Channel A.
A recording from 2023 has revealed that late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna was forced to sign a six-month punitive contract due to alleged attendance issues and workplace conflicts.
On February 18 KST, a 13-minute audio recording of a conversation between Oh Yoanna and her supervisor ('A,' head of the disaster weather department) from January 31, 2023, was released. The recording sheds light on the unfair working conditions she endured before her passing.
During the conversation, 'A' questioned Oh about why she was unable to appear on a radio broadcast. Oh Yoanna explained, “I was taken away in an ambulance due to gastritis. I regained consciousness on the way back, but my senior colleagues told me, ‘You’re not fit to do the news,’ so I couldn’t go on air.”
She further described her deteriorating health: “I was under extreme stress. Even on the day they said my voice wasn’t good enough, I kept throwing up after the shift. I had to rely on medication to suppress the pain, but my condition just kept worsening. In hindsight, I should have spoken up about it.”
Despite her clear health struggles, 'A' responded coldly, stating that trust had been broken, making it difficult to continue working together. 'A' then informed Oh Yoanna that her contract, typically renewed for a year, would instead be extended in two six-month increments as a form of disciplinary action.
Oh Yoanna also spoke about the difficult work environment, expressing concern about how she was perceived by senior colleagues: “I struggle with maintaining hierarchical relationships. I’m not the type to constantly check in, be overly friendly, or express things fluently, so I think people misunderstand me a lot.”
Allegations of workplace bullying and MBC’s delayed response
Following Oh Yoanna’s passing in September 2023, it was not until three months later, in December, that the news was widely reported. Recently, claims that she suffered workplace harassment from fellow weathercasters have surfaced, prompting public outrage.
MBC, after four months of silence, finally announced on January 31, 2024, that it had established a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
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