Allegations of Workplace Bullying Surround Late MBC Weathercaster Oh Yoo-anna

The controversy surrounding the late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoo-anna (1996–2024), who passed away in September last year, continues to escalate with new allegations of workplace bullying emerging. On February 3, Channel A reported that the family of Oh Yoo-anna revealed the existence of an audio recording in which she expressed her grievances to MBC officials regarding the harassment she faced. This recording is considered crucial evidence in determining the nature of the bullying she endured.

The family shared with Channel A that there are recordings involving four individuals, and during a one-and-a-half-hour conversation over drinks with one of them, Oh Yoo-anna recorded the entire discussion. The content of the recording reportedly includes her seeking advice about the bullying she experienced from a specific weathercaster, stating, 'It’s so painful, the words are so violent. Is this workplace bullying, or did I do something wrong?'

The family plans to decide whether to release the recording after observing MBC's internal investigation. Previously, it was reported that other weathercasters at MBC had made disparaging remarks about Oh Yoo-anna in a group chat on her smartphone when she was not present, which has been cited as evidence of bullying.

Additionally, the Daegu and Gyeongbuk region's daily newspaper, Maeil Shinmun, reported on January 27 that a 2,750-character suicide note was found on Oh Yoo-anna's unlocked phone, detailing her experiences of workplace bullying from two specific weathercasters. This revelation has sparked widespread outrage, prompting MBC to establish an investigative committee to look into the matter.

Oh Yoo-anna passed away in September 2024, and the cause of her death has not been disclosed. A former idol trainee, she won the title of Miss Chunhyang in 2019 and was selected as an MBC public recruitment weathercaster in 2021, where she presented weather updates for both weekday and weekend news. She also appeared on tvN's You Quiz on the Block (유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭).