Jang Sung Kyu denies claims of ignoring workplace bullying of late weathercaster Oh Yoanna

Jang Sung Kyu denies accusations of neglecting workplace harassment of late announcer Oh Yoanna.

Former JTBC announcer and broadcaster Jang Sung Kyu has addressed allegations that he turned a blind eye to workplace harassment suffered by the late MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna.

On February 11th KST, Jang posted a statement on his Instagram, explaining that he was urged to clarify the situation by Oh Yoanna’s family, who felt sorry that he was being subjected to secondary victimization.

Jang stated that he first met Oh Yoanna in 2022 and initially believed she had a good relationship with fellow weathercaster Kim Ga Young. He recalled that Oh introduced herself as Kim’s junior and expressed admiration for her, calling her a role model.

However, Jang later sensed a shift in their relationship when Oh sought his advice over a meal. She confided in him about concerns related to her appearance on ‘You Quiz on the Block’, and he encouraged her to stay strong, interpreting the situation as common jealousy and workplace struggles.

At a later point, Jang suggested to Kim Ga Young that they support Oh together, but Kim allegedly responded that internal work-related reasons made it difficult. It was then that he realized their relationship had changed, and from that point onward, he refrained from conveying messages between them.

Jang firmly denied the claims made by a YouTube channel, which alleged that he participated in spreading false narratives about Oh Yoanna. He stated, “I never heard the phrase ‘she’s a liar’ from Kim Ga Young, nor did I relay such words to Oh Yoanna. I never had any similar conversations with her.”

He also shared that he only learned of Oh Yoanna’s passing through the news last year, as her family had kept the funeral private. Expressing deep regret, Jang wrote, “I feel immense sorrow for not having been of any help.”

Meanwhile, Oh Yoanna tragically passed away in September 2023 at the age of 28. While the cause of death was not initially disclosed, a recent Maeil Newspaper report revealed that a suicide note was found on her phone, in which she detailed workplace bullying from two specific weathercasters.

The allegations against Jang surfaced after a YouTube channel released a recorded conversation with an MBC employee, claiming that Jang had witnessed the harassment and failed to act. In response, Jang not only refuted the claims on his social media but also commented under the channel’s video, demanding a correction and asking for the identity of the MBC employee who allegedly made false claims against him.