Legal Battle Over the Death of MBC Weathercaster Oh Yoanna Begins

The family of the late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna (오요안나), who tragically passed away in September 2024 at the age of 28, is engaged in a legal dispute regarding allegations of workplace bullying that may have contributed to her death. On July 22, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 48, presided over by Judge Baek Do-kyun, held the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Oh's family against a former MBC weathercaster, referred to as A.

The family's representative stated, "The essence of the lawsuit is that A's bullying contributed to Oh's death." They initially filed the suit based on the premise that Oh was an employee and that workplace harassment was the cause of action. However, following an investigation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which found deficiencies in recognizing her employment status, they are considering amending their claim to include general harassment.

In May, the Ministry released findings from a special labor inspection of MBC, acknowledging some instances of bullying by colleagues but ultimately not recognizing Oh as an employee due to her freelance status. This led to the conclusion that MBC staff could not be penalized for violating labor laws.

The family expressed skepticism about the thoroughness of the Ministry's investigation, questioning whether it was conducted properly. They indicated they might request the submission of additional evidence or witnesses from MBC if any shortcomings were identified during the investigation.

A's legal representative expressed condolences over Oh's untimely death but argued that the family's claims misrepresent the relationship between A and Oh, suggesting that the allegations are based on selective editing of conversations. They asserted that A did not engage in workplace bullying and that Oh had maintained a good relationship with A until her death.

The family countered that they would present the full transcripts of conversations between A and Oh, emphasizing that while some exchanges may appear friendly, it does not negate the fact that A bullied Oh, who had reported experiencing mental distress. They argued that the friendly tone was likely a strategy to avoid upsetting a superior rather than indicative of a positive relationship.

The family plans to submit a complete version of Oh's suicide note to the court, with the next hearing scheduled for September 23, 2025. They filed the lawsuit against A on December 23, 2024, claiming that from October 2021 until just before Oh's death in September 2024, she endured verbal abuse and unreasonable demands from A and other colleagues.