YouTuber Iljuoter apologized after defending Kim Gayoung, who is suspected of being a perpetrator of workplace bullying against the late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna.
On the 3rd, Iljuoter posted on the YouTube channel bulletin board, “I wrote a comment recently before accurately understanding the facts,” and added, “I am sorry for hurting many people with my thoughtless words and actions.”
He continued, “As a result, I have hurt the feelings of the deceased and their family. I deeply regret this and am sincerely reflecting on my actions. This is an undeniable mistake on my part, and I want to sincerely apologize for my shortcomings. I am cautious that saying this might hurt the bereaved family once again. I sincerely apologize to the bereaved family who were hurt because of me.”
Iljuoter also stated, “I apologize to everyone who was hurt by my reckless words and actions, and I will speak and act more cautiously in the future. Once again, I am truly sorry.”
Earlier, on the 27th of last month, Iljuoter defended Kim Gayoung, who was identified as one of the perpetrators of workplace bullying against Oh Yoanna, stating, “Sister Gayoung was really struggling with the fact that she couldn’t protect Oh Yoanna.”
When this post was made public, netizens reacted with backlash against Iljuoter's comments, to which Iljuoter responded, “I don’t think Oh Yoanna would want comments like this here,” and added, “It may be meddling, but I am worried about Sister Gayoung, and although our relationship was short, I leave a comment wishing for Oh Yoanna’s peace.”
Recently, a group chat involving MBC weathercasters Park Hamyeong, Kim Gayoung, Choi Ari, and Lee Hyunseung, excluding the deceased and her colleague Geum Chaerim, was revealed to have made disparaging remarks about the deceased, such as “She’s completely crazy. Let’s leave the group chat,” “She smells,” “Another X,” “(‘The Glory’) Yeonjin did well on air,” and “Victim cosplay. We are the victims,” leading to them being identified as perpetrators of workplace bullying. Consequently, netizens demanded an apology from Iljuoter, which seems to have prompted this statement.
Meanwhile, the late Oh Yoanna joined MBC as a public recruitment weathercaster in 2021 and suddenly passed away last September. The news of her death was belatedly reported three months later in December.
Subsequently, on the 27th of last month, a 17-page suicide note was discovered on the deceased's mobile phone, raising suspicions of workplace bullying. The bereaved family filed a civil lawsuit against colleagues suspected of workplace bullying at the Seoul Central District Court in December last year. MBC has formed a fact-finding committee and has begun an investigation. The Mapo Police Station in Seoul has also received a public complaint requesting an investigation into the case and has started an inquiry.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
