Jang Seong-kyu Responds to Allegations of Ignoring Workplace Bullying Related to Late Oh Yoanna
Broadcaster Jang Seong-kyu has taken to social media to address accusations that he ignored workplace bullying incidents involving the late Oh Yoanna. Following a wave of negative comments, he directly replied to critics on the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' on February 8. In his comment, he expressed frustration, stating, "Thanks to my brother Se-yi (Kim Se-yi, the head of Garo Sero Research Institute), I've been called a murderer and have received messages telling my sons to take their own lives." He added a thumbs-up emoji, sarcastically acknowledging the influence of Se-yi.
Jang emphasized his respect for Se-yi's lifestyle but requested corrections to the facts once they are clarified. He also wished everyone a happy new year and asked for information about an MBC employee who allegedly provided false information during a phone call.
The controversy began after the channel released a recording of a conversation with an MBC official on January 31, suggesting that Jang had overlooked the bullying suffered by Oh. Although he initially denied the allegations, the ongoing backlash prompted him to respond to comments on the channel.
In response to a question about why he did not attend Oh's funeral, Jang explained that it was intentionally kept private, which upset him. He also mentioned that he would resolve issues with the MBC employee over drinks and clarified that the criticism directed at him was not solely due to Kim Se-yi but also because his name was mentioned in a group chat among weathercasters.
When a netizen targeted weathercaster Kim Ga-young, who was implicated in the bullying allegations, Jang retorted, warning that spreading falsehoods could lead to serious consequences.
On February 5, Jang had previously denied the allegations on his Instagram, stating that while he was hurt by the initial mention of his name, he chose to remain silent out of respect for the deceased and their family. However, as negative comments escalated, including those targeting his family, he felt compelled to limit his engagement with the comments.
He shared screenshots of some of the hateful messages he received, which included accusations of murder and threats against his children. Jang expressed that seeking to clear his name before addressing the late Oh's injustices was misguided and pleaded for restraint regarding comments about his family until the situation is resolved.
