A Year After Her Passing, New Clues Emerge
It’s been one year since MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna tragically passed away at just 28 years old. But her story is far from over. This week, her grieving family released a heartbreaking audio file that allegedly captures senior colleagues berating her—fueling suspicions of workplace bullying within one of Korea’s major broadcasters.
“Was I Really That Terrible?”: Audio Reveals Verbal Harassment
The audio, shared via the YouTube channel ‘BBC News Korea’, is difficult to listen to. It includes real-name accusations and recordings of senior staff saying things like, “Do you think you’re that important?” and “You’re supposed to apologize, not argue.” One colleague chillingly described the station’s atmosphere as “like a gang.”
Oh’s voice is heard tearfully telling her mother, “Everyone says I’m arrogant. They say everything is my fault.” The emotional toll is painfully clear.
TV Appearance Sparked More Hostility
After appearing on tvN’s hit variety show You Quiz on the Block, the backlash reportedly worsened. Seniors questioned her credibility and even her right to represent MBC, criticizing, “You haven’t even been here a year—why are you on that show?”
It’s yet another example of the harsh seniority culture that can dominate traditional Korean workplaces—a setup where speaking up can mean isolation or worse.
Her Mother Calls Out a Broken System
Oh’s mother, appearing in the video, demands accountability: “It’s been a year and still no one has stepped forward. I started a hunger strike because this system failed my daughter.” She still can’t bring herself to throw out the dress and shoes Oh had prepared for her next appearance.
She argues that the issue isn’t only about individual suffering. Freelance weathercasters like Oh often do the same work as full-time employees, but without the security or support. “This is a structural problem,” she says. “She was trapped in a system designed to break her.”
MBC Responds—But Is It Too Late?
Facing mounting public criticism, MBC has since announced the termination of their freelance weathercaster system. Instead, they plan to launch a new structure with full-time meteorological experts. Critics, however, say the move is “too little, too late.” Her family has called the measure a second injustice, warning that policy change without responsibility is merely performative.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As the case unfolds in court, many in Korea are asking difficult questions about the price of ambition and the hidden human cost behind polished screens. Oh Yoanna’s story is no longer just hers—it’s a wake-up call about toxic workplaces, celebrity pressure, and the urgent need for structural change in Korean media.
