MBC's 'You Quiz on the Block' Episode Featuring Late Weathercaster Oh Yoanna Removed from Streaming

The streaming service for the 170th episode of MBC's 'You Quiz on the Block,' featuring the late weathercaster Oh Yoanna, has been unexpectedly halted. Reports from January 30 revealed that the OTT platform Tving has discontinued the replay service for this particular episode, which included appearances by weathercasters from the three major broadcasting networks, as well as actor Son Seok-koo and Professor Kim Bung-nyeon.

Oh Yoanna, who was a prominent weathercaster for MBC, appeared alongside SBS's Nam Yu-jin and KBS's Bae Hye-ji in this episode. Following the suspension of the replay service, all videos featuring Oh Yoanna have been removed from the platform, along with footage of her fellow weathercasters. Currently, only the talk segments featuring Son Seok-koo and Professor Kim Bung-nyeon remain available.

It has been confirmed that the discontinuation of the replay service is not directly related to the allegations of workplace bullying that have surfaced. Oh Yoanna's death was reported on January 10, and the announcement regarding the suspension of the replay service came a few days later. The status of whether the service will resume remains uncertain.

On January 27, a report by Maeil Shinmun raised allegations of workplace bullying against Oh Yoanna, revealing that a 17-page suicide note was found on her unlocked phone. The note reportedly detailed experiences of bullying from two specific weathercasters. One colleague allegedly misreported information and blamed Oh Yoanna, while another criticized her for pointing out incorrect weather data, suggesting that a junior should not correct a senior.

In response, MBC issued an official statement clarifying that Oh Yoanna had never reported her grievances to the appropriate departments or management during her time as a freelancer. They emphasized that had she formally reported any issues, the company would have conducted a thorough investigation.

MBC also stated that they take workplace bullying very seriously and are prepared to investigate any claims made by freelancers or cast members without delay. They expressed readiness to initiate an investigation if the family requests it based on the newly discovered note.

On January 28, Kang Myung-il, the emergency committee chair of MBC's third labor union, discussed Oh Yoanna's tragic passing during a live broadcast, highlighting the low wages she received and the demanding nature of her job, which often led to sleep deprivation and insomnia. He pointed out structural issues within MBC that may have contributed to her situation, mentioning that after the episode of 'You Quiz,' a group chat was created that excluded Oh Yoanna and another colleague, leading to feelings of isolation.

The family of Oh Yoanna is currently gathering evidence, including phone calls and KakaoTalk conversations, to file a civil lawsuit against her colleagues. With MBC's willingness to investigate if requested by the family, there is growing interest in how these allegations will unfold.