The late weathercaster Oh Yoanna / Captured from her social media

MBC has denied allegations that the late weathercaster Oh Yoanna faced workplace harassment, saying that no formal complaints or reports were made while she was working at the company.

In an official statement on Tuesday, the broadcaster said, “What can be confirmed is that during her time as a freelancer, the deceased never informed any relevant department — such as the HR counseling office — nor any managerial staff about her concerns or any instances of workplace harassment.”

Oh began her career as a weathercaster at MBC in May 2021 but passed away in September 2023 at the age of 28. The exact cause of her death was not disclosed at the time.

MBC said, “If the deceased had officially reported her concerns, whether through formal channels or by informing responsible supervisors, the company would have immediately launched an appropriate investigation.”

The broadcasting company said that it takes workplace harassment very seriously, applying strict measures in such cases, and promptly investigates any reports or requests from freelancers and cast members.

A local media outlet reported Monday that Oh wrote a 17-page note in a phone memo app last September before her death, detailing workplace harassment and claiming she informed four MBC officials. However, MBC reportedly did not investigate further due to the absence of formal complaints after her passing.

Responding to reports claiming that Oh had informed MBC officials about her situation before her death, MBC urged, “If anyone knows who these individuals are, please inform us. Spreading unverified information and raising baseless suspicions should be avoided to protect the dignity of the deceased and prevent further harm to others.”

MBC also addressed claims regarding Oh's alleged suicide note, which reportedly detailed instances of workplace harassment.

MBC said it had not been provided with a copy of the note. “If the family requests an investigation based on the newly discovered note, we are fully prepared to initiate a thorough inquiry immediately,” it said.

Online communities and social media have speculated about specific individuals being involved in the alleged harassment.

In its statement, MBC urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims, noting that such actions could harm both the deceased's reputation and others potentially implicated.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.