MBC Weather Announcers Honor Late Yoanna Oh's 1st Anniversary in Black

MBC weather announcers wore black attire to quietly commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of the late Yoanna Oh.

On the 15th, in a noticeable departure from their usual colorful outfits, the MBC weather team opted for somber, black clothing to deliver the weather forecast. News Today's Kim Ga-young wore a deep navy dress, while 12 PM Newsdesk's Lee Hyun-seung appeared in a black dress with a neat hairstyle. Additionally, Geum Chae-rim, who covered the weather for 5 PM News and Economy and Newsdesk, also chose a calm black dress.

The stark contrast of their attire compared to the days before and after drew particular attention, interpreted as a silent tribute to the late Yoanna Oh on the anniversary of her death. Following this, MBC announced plans to reform its weather caster system, ending the freelance model. The company intends to hire 'Weather and Climate Experts' as full-time employees, expanding their roles beyond just delivering weather information to include content creation and appearances.

However, the bereaved family of the late Yoanna Oh strongly criticized these changes, stating that the announcement failed to acknowledge Yoanna's status as a worker and was akin to 'a second death' for the deceased. They expressed deep disappointment, arguing that the efforts of Yoanna's mother, who had even gone on a hunger strike for regularization, have inadvertently led to the dismissal of colleagues.

The tragic news of Yoanna Oh's passing on September 14, 2024, only came to light three months after her death. A 17-page suicide note found on her mobile phone revealed she had suffered workplace bullying from colleagues, sending shockwaves through the public.

The late Yoanna Oh was a weathercaster at MBC who tragically passed away. Her death, accompanied by a note detailing workplace bullying, deeply shocked the public and raised awareness about labor issues. Yoanna Oh's case highlighted the persistent problem of workplace harassment and the precarious conditions faced by freelance workers in South Korea.