Former announcer and broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu denied allegations that he instigated discord between the late Oh Yoanna and caster Kim Ga-young.
On the 11th, Jang Sung-kyu posted a lengthy message on his social media, stating, “I intended to clarify my position after the deceased and her family found peace, but the family expressed their concern that I might be subjected to secondary harm and encouraged me to clarify, so I am cautiously posting this.”
First, Jang Sung-kyu revealed that he met Oh Yoanna for the first time while exercising in 2022.
He said, “The deceased introduced herself as a junior to caster Kim Ga-young and mentioned that Kim Ga-young cherishes her and considers her a role model,” adding, “Caster Kim Ga-young also said that she values the deceased as a junior, so I thought their relationship was good.”
However, Jang Sung-kyu later sensed a change in their relationship. Oh Yoanna confided in him about her concerns regarding the tvN entertainment program ‘You Quiz on the Block,’ and he suggested that they help the deceased together, but she replied, “It’s not easy due to work circumstances.”
Jang Sung-kyu emphasized, “After that, I did not convey any messages between them,” and added, “I have never heard expressions like ‘Oppa, she’s a liar’ mentioned on a certain YouTube channel, nor have I ever relayed anything like ‘Anna, they say you’re a liar, according to Kim Ga-young.’ I have never had any similar conversations with the deceased.”
Additionally, Jang Sung-kyu shared a screenshot of a conversation he had with the deceased in May 2024, a year after he left the radio. He stated, “The deceased recommended restaurants through social media, and our last communication was exchanging direct messages to check on each other. If the deceased considered me a perpetrator or bystander or felt hurt, would she have greeted me warmly?”
He continued, “I recently heard that the deceased’s funeral was held with minimal contact with the outside, according to the family’s wishes, and I learned of the news at the end of last year without receiving any contact. I still can’t believe it, remembering the deceased’s vibrant appearance. I feel deeply sorry that I could not be of any help. Once again, I express my condolences for the deceased.”
The late Oh Yoanna joined MBC as a public recruitment weather caster in 2021 and suddenly passed away in September last year. The news of her death was belatedly reported three months later in December.
Subsequently, a 17-page suicide note was discovered on the deceased’s mobile phone, leading to allegations of workplace bullying, and the family filed a civil lawsuit against a colleague suspected of workplace bullying at the Seoul Central District Court in December last year.
MBC organized a fact-finding committee and began an investigation, while the Mapo Police Station in Seoul also received related complaints and started verifying the facts. The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiated a preliminary investigation to determine whether the deceased, who was a freelancer, qualifies as an employee under the Labor Standards Act.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
