Ministry of Employment and Labor: Late Announcer Oh Yoon-na Faced Harassment but Not Recognized as Employee

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has concluded that while there was harassment faced by the late Oh Yoon-na, a weathercaster for MBC, she does not qualify as an employee under the Labor Standards Act. This decision has been met with deep sorrow and anger from her family, who vehemently reject the findings.

On May 19, at a press conference held in front of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, Oh Yoon-na's mother, Jang Yeon-mi, expressed her grief, stating, "Yoon-na worked according to MBC's directives, yet the Ministry claims she is not a worker. Did the Ministry make this decision to avoid upsetting MBC? How can they make such a decision that drives a nail into the hearts of the bereaved? I feel it is incredibly unjust and infuriating."

Jang continued, "Yoon-na fought hard to live and excel in her work. Even when I urged her to quit, she insisted on pursuing her dreams. But the reality is that this precious child was driven to death. How can everyone turn a blind eye to this?" She added, "I am enduring this to seek justice for Yoon-na, and it is devastating to see such results. I hope the perpetrators sincerely apologize and that MBC takes responsibility."

The press conference was co-hosted by various labor organizations, including Ending Credit and Workplace Harassment 119, who criticized the Ministry's decision. They argued that the lack of recognition of Oh Yoon-na's status as a worker makes it difficult for her family to hold MBC accountable for the harassment she endured. They questioned the significance of acknowledging harassment without addressing the working conditions of weathercasters like Oh Yoon-na.

The Ministry's investigation revealed that after joining MBC in 2021, Oh Yoon-na received frequent guidance from senior colleagues, but some of their actions were deemed unnecessary by societal standards. For instance, when she appeared on the entertainment show "You Quiz on the Block," a senior weathercaster publicly criticized her, asking, "What can you say on You Quiz?"

Despite acknowledging the harassment, the Ministry stated that it could not classify Oh Yoon-na as an employee under the Labor Standards Act, thus exempting the case from workplace harassment regulations. Factors such as some weathercasters having contracts with external agencies and the absence of fixed working hours or vacation procedures contributed to this conclusion.

A Ministry official explained, "Since we cannot impose fines or criminal penalties related to this case under the Labor Standards Act, MBC must take action according to its internal regulations."

In response, MBC has committed to taking appropriate measures against those involved and implementing preventive strategies. They stated, "We take the Ministry's findings regarding the harassment of Oh Yoon-na very seriously and will work to improve our organizational culture."

MBC plans to establish a 'Cooperation Officer' role to allow freelancers and non-regular workers to report issues directly, ensuring prompt resolution. They also indicated that they would legally review the employment status of some freelancers and take appropriate actions soon.

Finally, MBC expressed their condolences to Oh Yoon-na's family, reiterating their sorrow over her tragic passing.