The tragic death of MBC weather forecaster Oh Yoanna has taken on a new dimension with the discovery of a suicide note detailing severe workplace bullying. Maeil Business reported that a 17-page suicide note was found on Oh Yoanna’s phone through forensics. The note described how specific weathercasters had made her life a misery.
Oh, who joined MBC as a freelance forecaster in 2021, became a target of workplace bullying starting in March 2022. According to the note, a senior colleague who joined MBC earlier blamed her own mistakes on Oh, while another senior colleague criticized Oh for correcting inaccurate weather information, saying, “How dare a junior correct a senior.”
The bullying extended beyond the workplace studio. KakaoTalk messages revealed that one of the two colleagues in question would insist on “mentoring” Oh after her scheduled work hours, keeping her at the office for one to one and a half hours longer than necessary. The suicide note also described an incident where Oh was offered an exciting opportunity to appear on the popular TV show You Quiz on the Block. However, one of the two weathercasters reportedly asked her, “What do you think you’re doing? What could you possibly talk about on You Quiz?”
When confronted with the allegations, one of the accused colleagues remained unresponsive to calls and messages. Maeil Newspaper noted that the other offered a dismissive response, saying, “We’re all going through a hard time. I don’t know if it’s appropriate for you to be calling like this. If you want to know more, contact MBC.”
An MBC representative told Maeil Newspaper, “We haven’t fully grasped the situation yet. We will address any mistakes on our part and humbly accept criticism.” However, MBC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
The situation has escalated further with a YouTube channel publicly naming the two suspected perpetrators. Outrage poured in from netizens, with many expressing shock and sorrow over Oh’s tragic death. Comments like, “This is heartbreaking – it was bullying that led to this,” and “I hope those who tormented her are brought to justice,” flooded the online space.
A close friend of Oh Yoanna bravely came forward, revealing the extent of the workplace harassment her friend endured. “My beloved friend was harassed for a long time by senior weathercasters at MBC and ultimately took her own life,” the friend said. “I couldn’t share the truth about her death with those curious, as there’s a chance certain perpetrators could destroy evidence. I hope the perpetrators and bystanders are punished so my friend can rest a little easier.”
Oh Yoanna passed away in September last year. The cause of her death had not been disclosed until now.
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