MBC Weathercaster Oh Yoo-anna's Struggles with Workplace Bullying Revealed

The late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoo-anna has been reported to have faced workplace bullying, with claims that she attempted to take her own life prior to her tragic passing. In an interview aired on JTBC's 'Incident Report' on January 31, her family shared that on September 6, 2022, she was stopped from jumping off the Gayang Bridge in Seoul by a passerby. When asked why she wanted to end her life, she reportedly expressed that her job was overwhelming.

Her family recounted her pain, stating, 'She felt like her spine was breaking and that living was unbearable, as if her intestines were being torn apart.' They attempted to have her hospitalized, but she insisted, 'I need to work; I was just acting out of anger.'

The family also discussed a KakaoTalk group chat created by her fellow weathercasters, where one member allegedly mocked Oh Yoo-anna, saying, 'Yeon-jin did well on air, but she’s just playing the victim,' referencing a character from the Netflix drama 'The Glory' known for school bullying. The family expressed their sorrow, noting that after her appearance on 'You Quiz on the Block,' she became a target of envy and hostility. They revealed that she sought help from over ten mental health professionals and shared her workplace struggles with two hospitals.

Oh Yoo-anna's sudden death was reported in December 2022, with MBC confirming that she had passed away in September. While the exact cause of her death was not disclosed at the time, it was later reported that a 2,750-character suicide note was found on her unlocked phone, detailing her experiences of bullying from two specific weathercasters. Oh Yoo-anna joined MBC as a freelance weathercaster in May 2021 and began facing harassment from her seniors in March 2022.

In response to the situation, the National Union of Media Workers MBC branch issued a statement on January 31, expressing condolences and calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations of workplace bullying and the structural issues faced by freelance weathercasters. They cautioned against premature conclusions and sensationalism, emphasizing the need to protect the dignity of the deceased and avoid causing harm to unrelated individuals.