As allegations have emerged that the late weathercaster Oh Yoanna, who passed away last year, suffered from workplace bullying, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the National Assembly, urged MBC to take responsibility.
On the 30th, Ahn Cheol-soo posted on Facebook, stating, "MBC must take responsibility for the allegations of workplace bullying."
He continued, "Sad news was reported during the holidays. The late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna, who passed away in September last year, suffered from workplace bullying for a long time, and her family is reportedly filing a civil lawsuit against a colleague who is the perpetrator." He added, "Thinking of the family's feelings as they celebrate the holiday after losing their loved one breaks my heart. I pray for the soul of the deceased, who left this world at a young age, and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family."
Ahn pointed out, "Workplace bullying is still rampant in our society. A survey found that 7 out of 10 non-regular workers in broadcasting have experienced bullying, which is truly serious. Experiences and hardships related to workplace bullying can be easily found around us, and the impact is even greater for socially vulnerable groups or non-regular workers." He added, "Workplace bullying is a social evil that turns the workplace, which should be a place of life, into hell, and it must be eradicated."
Ahn also expressed disappointment with MBC's attitude, stating, "It has already been four months since the death of the deceased, yet there has been no investigation or action, which is difficult to understand. The claim that no action could be taken because the deceased did not report it to the company is also irresponsible. It is not easy for a vulnerable freelance worker to report to the company, and shifting the responsibility onto the victim is unacceptable."
He further stated, "To dismiss criticism of this incident as an attempt to shake MBC and to frame it as media oppression is a secondary harm that insults the deceased and hurts the bereaved family." He emphasized, "If MBC, which has criticized workplace bullying countless times through the news, evades responsibility with partisan logic, it would be a typical case of 'double standards'."
Ahn urged again, "I hope MBC will show a responsible attitude regarding this workplace bullying allegation."
Meanwhile, the deceased passed the MBC weathercaster exam in May 2021 and gained recognition by appearing on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" in 2022. She passed away at the age of 28 in September last year, and this fact was belatedly reported in December.
The deceased's family filed a civil lawsuit in December last year against a colleague who appears to have engaged in workplace bullying, gathering evidence such as phone calls and KakaoTalk messages from the deceased. In response to the allegations of workplace bullying, MBC stated, "We currently do not have the deceased's will," and added, "If the bereaved family requests fact-finding based on a newly discovered will, MBC is prepared to initiate an investigation as soon as possible."
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
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