'MBC Expulsion' Late Oh Yoanna Perpetrator, Court Date in July... Resumption of Compensation Lawsuit

[Financial News]  MBC expelled weathercaster A, who was identified as the perpetrator, after reporting the results of an internal harassment investigation regarding their former weathercaster, the late Oh Yoanna. A is scheduled to appear in court this July due to a lawsuit filed by the bereaved family.

According to Star News on the 27th, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 48 (Chief Judge Kim Do-kyun) will resume the trial date on July 22 for the lawsuit filed by Oh's family against A.

The court initially set the date for a default judgment on March 27, but the ruling was canceled when A belatedly submitted a legal representation lawsuit delegation form.

Typically, if the defendant does not submit a response after the plaintiff files a complaint, the court issues a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff's claims. However, if the defendant submits a response, the judgment is canceled and a trial is conducted.

In September last year, Oh passed away at the age of 28. It was later revealed that a 17-page will was found on the deceased's phone. The will contained details of workplace harassment by colleagues.

The names of four perpetrators were specified, and the family filed a civil lawsuit against one of them at the Seoul Central District Court.

As public criticism continued, MBC announced in February that it had formed a fact-finding committee and would conduct its own investigation, but faced backlash for continuing to broadcast the involved weathercasters.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor concluded about 8 months after the deceased's death that "there were actions that could be considered harassment." However, they determined that "weathercasters do not qualify as employees."

Subsequently, MBC stated in an official position on the 19th that "we take the results of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's special labor inspection very seriously" and expressed condolences to Oh and the bereaved family.

As a measure against those involved, MBC announced the termination of the contract with A, but stated that they had renewed contracts with the remaining three.


gaa1003@fnnews.com An Ga-eul Reporter