A legal representative for weathercaster “A”, who has been accused of bullying her late colleague Oh Yoanna, conveyed an apology to the bereaved family during the first hearing of a civil suit filed by the deceased’s family.
On July 22 KST, the Civil Division 48 of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Kim Do Kyun) held the first hearing for the damages lawsuit filed by the family of the late Oh Yoanna against her former MBC coworker. Oh’s mother and older brother appeared in court, while “A” was absent and represented by legal counsel.
Oh’s family filed the lawsuit on December 23, 2023, claiming that she had suffered from persistent workplace bullying by a fellow MBC weathercaster, identified only as “A.” Originally, the court had scheduled a default judgment for March 27, but the proceedings resumed after “A” belatedly appointed a legal representative.
During the hearing, the plaintiffs’ attorney emphasized that, “We tried to verify with MBC whether a proper investigation had been conducted regarding the workplace bullying.” They added, “Although the defense claims the audio evidence was manipulated, we submitted the full transcripts. Regardless of any outwardly friendly relationship, the mental distress she endured remains undeniable.”
In response, the attorney for “A” expressed condolences, stating, “Regardless of the facts, we offer our deepest sympathies for the untimely passing of someone so young.” However, they contested the allegations: “Labeling ‘A’ as a perpetrator of bullying without considering the broader context and content of the conversations is an unfair assertion.”
The late Oh Yo-anna passed away in September 2023. A 17-page handwritten letter was found on her phone, detailing alleged experiences of bullying and mistreatment in the workplace.
Though the Ministry of Employment and Labor determined in May that MBC weathercasters do not legally qualify as employees under the Labor Standards Act, the agency made the unusual decision to publicly acknowledge the existence of behavior that could be interpreted as bullying.
Following the ministry’s findings, MBC pledged to implement reforms, including preventive measures, an improved workplace culture, and adherence to labor laws. The company also terminated its contract with “A”, who had been named by the ministry as the main perpetrator.
SEE ALSO: New details emerge about workplace bullying involving MBC weathercaster who took her own life
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