One Year After Broadcast Meteorologist Oh Yo-anna's Passing, Troubling Audio Reveals Workplace Bullying

A year has passed since broadcast meteorologist Oh Yo-anna's death, and recently revealed audio recordings have brought shocking details of alleged workplace bullying to light, adding to the public's sorrow.

On the 15th, the YouTube channel BBC News Korea published a video titled, “One Year Since Oh Yo-anna’s Death: The Reality of Freelance Broadcast Meteorologists, What Has Changed?”. In the video, Oh Yo-anna’s mother visited the MBC headquarters again on the anniversary of her daughter's passing. She stated, “It’s been a year since I lost my daughter, but with no one taking responsibility, I have started a hunger strike.”

The mother tearfully recalled Oh Yo-anna, who couldn't let go of her broadcasting career despite financial hardship and job insecurity. She mentioned she still keeps the dress and shoes her daughter had prepared for broadcasts.

Particularly devastating was the audio file released by the bereaved family. The recordings suggest that Oh Yo-anna was subjected to verbal abuse from her seniors, who asked questions like, “How great do you think you are?”. An acquaintance testified that the atmosphere at the broadcasting station was akin to a “gang-like environment”. Oh Yo-anna herself confided in her mother, tearfully saying, “Am I that terrible? Am I being too arrogant towards those around me? They insist I must take all the blame.”

The recordings also captured the voices of seniors who were specifically named. One senior scolded her, saying, “How great do you think you are? Is a senior your friend? Do you want to have a shouting match with me over the phone? You should have apologized to me.” Another senior described the environment, stating, “This place has low standards. It’s like a gang playing games. You have to play along to survive. Otherwise, you’ll self-destruct.”

Following her appearance on tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’, Oh Yo-anna faced further harassment. Testimonies indicate that seniors publicly yelled at her, questioning her right to speak on ‘You Quiz’ and saying, “How can someone like you, who hasn’t even been here a year, represent MBC?”

The mother emphasized that this tragedy was not merely a personal issue but stemmed from the flaws in the “freelancer system”. She argued that broadcast meteorologists, who work like full-time employees, lack job security and become victims of excessive competition and instability.

In response to growing public criticism, MBC announced on the same day that it would abolish its existing freelance broadcast meteorologist system and establish a new “Weather and Climate Specialist” position, which will be a regular employment form.

Oh Yo-anna was a broadcast meteorologist who gained public recognition for her work. She was loved for her bright and positive demeanor, but it is known that she endured difficult times due to poor working conditions and workplace bullying. Her tragic passing has served as a catalyst for public discussion on improving the working environment for freelancers.