After 27 days on a hunger strike, the mother of late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna has ended her protest following a tentative settlement with the South Korean broadcaster.
According to OSEN, Jang Yeon-mi, Oh Yoanna’s mother, agreed to stop her strike on October 5 after MBC pledged to hold a public apology and discuss compensation for the family. Jang Yeon-mi has since been hospitalized in Seoul for medical treatment.
Under the agreement, MBC will host a press conference on October 15, where executives will issue an official apology to Oh Yoanna’s family and the public. The broadcaster also confirmed that it will award Oh Yoanna an honorary employee badge and maintain her memorial space at its headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul, until September 15, 2026, the second anniversary of her death.
Oh Yoanna, a popular weather presenter at MBC, died by suicide on September 15, 2024, at the age of 28. Her death became public nearly three months later, prompting widespread shock and scrutiny of working conditions in the South Korean media industry.
Early this year, reports emerged that Oh Yoanna had allegedly been bullied by two of her colleagues, both freelance weather announcers at MBC. Police investigators found a 17-page note on her phone detailing instances of workplace harassment.
In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor launched a special investigation. In May 2025, the ministry concluded that harassment had indeed taken place but noted that MBC could not be penalized under the Labor Standards Act, as Oh Yoanna was classified as a freelance contractor rather than an employee.
Following the ruling, MBC issued a statement describing the findings as a “stern warning,” adding that it would focus on preventing workplace abuse and improving internal culture.
In September, marking one year since Oh Yoanna’s passing, MBC announced plans to abolish its freelance weathercaster system and introduce a new employment structure.
The broadcaster said it would now hire full-time meteorological professionals, integrating them into its newsroom as permanent staff. These employees will not only deliver weather forecasts on air but also contribute to climate and environmental reporting.
MBC plans to open public recruitment for these positions by late 2025 or early 2026. Applicants must hold degrees or professional certification in meteorology, climate science, or environmental studies—or have at least five years of experience in related fields. Existing freelance weather presenters will be eligible to apply.
Despite MBC’s commitments, civil society groups and Oh Yoanna’s family have criticized the broadcaster’s handling of the case. In a joint statement, they accused MBC of attempting to “erase” Oh Yoanna’s identity as a worker.
“Her mother’s hunger strike was not meant to punish anyone,” the statement read. “It was to end the injustice that drove her daughter to despair and to ensure that no one else suffers the same fate.”
Activists have described MBC’s response as “a second death for Oh Yoanna,” calling for systemic reform across South Korea’s media industry, where freelance announcers often work without legal protections.
MBC’s October 15 press conference will mark its first official apology since the incident. The company said it will disclose the full findings of its independent fact-finding committee once legal proceedings are concluded.
Oh Yoanna’s death has reignited debate in South Korea about labor rights, mental health, and the treatment of contract workers in high-pressure industries such as broadcasting.
Sources: OSEN,MBC