The Ministry of Employment and Labor has concluded that workplace harassment occurred in the case of the late Oh Yoanna, a weathercaster affiliated with MBC, following a special labor investigation.

According to a report by SBS on May 18, the ministry conducted a three-month special inspection of MBC and stated that although Oh Yoanna did not meet the legal definition of a “worker” under the Labor Standards Act, there were actions in her case that could be considered workplace harassment.

The ministry cited that weathercasters are not typically classified as employees because they may work for multiple broadcasters and are often contracted through management agencies, rather than being directly hired by the networks. Based on this classification, Oh Yoanna was not recognized as a formal employee under labor law.

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Employment and Labor made an exception due to the high level of public attention the case had received. It stated that “there were actions that may be considered harassment” in her situation.

Back in February, the ministry formed a joint task force between the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Seoul Western District Office to launch a special labor inspection into MBC and its working environment for weathercasters.

Oh Yoanna passed away in September 2023, after which allegations of workplace bullying surfaced. Four fellow MBC weathercasters were named as alleged perpetrators. Her bereaved family has since filed a civil lawsuit against one of them.

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