Oh Yo-anna trial, another witness fails to appear

The damages lawsuit regarding workplace harassment involving the late Oh Yo-anna, a former MBC weathercaster, has once again hit a snag over the issue of witness attendance. The Seoul Central District Court's 48th Civil Division is scheduled to conduct witness examinations during the sixth pleading date on the 18th, but it is reported that one of the individuals designated as a witness has filed a notice of non-attendance. As previous hearings were delayed because key witnesses failed to appear in court, the core focus of this upcoming date is not on new arguments, but whether the testimonies can actually be presented in court.

Why the witness examination on the 18th is important

Last October, the bereaved family submitted witness applications for three individuals who were aware of the deceased's circumstances during her lifetime. The lawyer for the bereaved family stated, "It is our wish that all three stand in the witness box." The reason this statement carries such weight is simple: this lawsuit is not a case that can be concluded solely through public documents and records; it is a case that must examine what words and instructions were exchanged on the broadcasting site at the time and what kind of relationships caused the deceased to suffer.

It is reported that the summons for the two weathercasters identified as perpetrators was not properly served, while the weather team PD, requested by the defendant, has reportedly expressed the intention to attend the next hearing. The fellow weathercaster requested by the bereaved family maintains that a closed-door examination is necessary. While there may be circumstances that make it difficult to speak in an open courtroom, if testimonies continue to be delayed, the trial is likely to become trapped in a battle of records. This is precisely why the bereaved family is demanding the attendance of all witnesses.

A case remaining as an issue of freelance broadcasting labor

Oh Yo-anna was selected as an MBC weathercaster in 2021 and delivered weather news, passing away in September 2024 at the age of 28. Following allegations that she had appealed against workplace harassment during her lifetime, the bereaved family filed a civil lawsuit against the relevant individuals. In a special labor inspection of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) last May, it was concluded that there were actions that could be viewed as harassment against the deceased, but it was also determined that it was difficult to recognize her as a worker under the Labor Standards Act. Due to this determination, criminal punishment or the application of workplace harassment provisions under the Labor Standards Act was blocked, increasing the weight of the civil trial.

This case did not stop at the tragedy of a single broadcaster. In October last year, MBC officially apologized to the bereaved family, presented an honorary employee ID to the deceased, and announced that it would abolish the freelance weathercaster system and introduce a weather and climate expert system. While the promise of institutional improvement is important, the trial leaves a separate question: what actually happened at the site where the deceased worked, and to what extent can responsibility be assigned, must be confirmed in court.

The next points of verification are attendance and the method of examination

What needs to be watched during the hearing on the 18th is what procedure the court will choose regarding the non-attending witness. If non-attendance continues without justifiable cause, additional procedures such as fines or warrants for arrest may be mentioned. Furthermore, if a closed-door examination is accepted, the key will be whether the witness can feel less burdened in court and say what needs to be said. This trial should not be a place to compete over whose words carry more weight, but a process to restore the deceased's final working environment as close to the facts as possible. Therefore, the first question in court on the 18th is clear: Will the witnesses be able to stand in the witness box this time?