After a special labor investigation, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has determined that workplace harassment took place in the circumstances involving the late Oh Yoanna, a weathercaster linked to MBC.

As reported by SBS on May 18, the ministry conducted a thorough three-month inspection at MBC and noted that although Oh Yoanna did not fit the criteria of a "worker" as per the Labor Standards Act, there were instances in her case that could be classified as workplace harassment.

The ministry explained that weathercasters are typically not considered regular employees because they often work for various broadcasters and are usually contracted through management agencies instead of being directly employed by the networks. Consequently, Oh Yoanna was not officially recognized as an employee under labor regulations.

Nevertheless, an exception was made by the Ministry of Employment and Labor due to the significant public interest surrounding the case. It was acknowledged that there were actions in her situation that could be interpreted as harassment.

In February, a joint task force was established by the ministry between the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Seoul Western District Office to conduct a special labor inspection at MBC and specifically look into the working conditions for weathercasters.

Following Oh Yoanna's unfortunate passing in September 2023, allegations of workplace bullying emerged, with four fellow MBC weathercasters being implicated. Subsequently, her family has filed a civil lawsuit against one of the individuals involved.