MBC Forms Investigation Committee Following Controversy Surrounding Late Weathercaster Oh Yoanna

The controversy surrounding the late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna, who passed away in September 2024, continues to escalate as MBC has announced the formation of an investigation committee. On January 27, the Maeil Business Newspaper reported that a note was found on Oh's phone, detailing her experiences of workplace bullying. It was claimed that she had informed four MBC officials about her situation prior to her death, but her concerns were reportedly dismissed. The report highlighted that one alleged perpetrator, weathercaster A, did not respond to multiple calls and messages, while another, weathercaster B, expressed discomfort over the situation, suggesting that if Oh wanted to discuss it, she should contact MBC directly.

In light of these developments, Oh's family filed a lawsuit on January 23 against some of her colleagues for damages related to workplace harassment. They stated they would not request MBC to verify the facts but hoped the company would conduct its own investigation and issue a sincere apology.

As allegations of workplace bullying among MBC weathercasters grow, MBC responded on January 28, stating that if any responsible managers had been informed of the bullying, the company would have conducted an investigation. They also indicated readiness to initiate an investigation based on the newly discovered note.

Despite these statements, the controversy surrounding Oh's death remains unresolved. On January 31, MBC officially announced the establishment of an investigation committee led by external experts to uncover the truth behind Oh's death. The committee will include multiple external professionals, including legal experts, and will be supported by department heads from MBC's internal human resources division. The investigation is set to begin next week after preliminary preparations over the weekend.

MBC emphasized its commitment to uncovering the truth swiftly and expressed condolences for Oh's passing, vowing to do everything possible to heal the family's pain by clarifying the facts surrounding her death. The public is now watching closely to see if the investigation will thoroughly address the allegations of bullying and harassment within the company.