MBC will end its contracts with its current freelance weathercasters and reorganize the news weather segment around weather and climate experts.
On the 9th, according to MBC, MBC ended its contracts with weathercasters Lee Hyun-seung, Kim Ga-young, Choi Ah-ri, and Geum Chae-rim. MBC said, "The newly hired employees will begin broadcasting soon after on-the-job training. The newly assigned weather experts will be in charge of the news weather segment previously handled by weathercasters and, as needed, can carry out production and appear on air in the form of reporter packages."
The change drew more attention after Geum Chae-rim shared her feelings about leaving on social media. Geum wrote, "Last Friday was my final day delivering the weather as a weathercaster," adding, "For about five years, I always delivered the weather in front of the camera with joy and excitement." Referring to special reports and live coverage during disasters and early-morning broadcasts, Geum noted, "I have no regrets because I did my best on every broadcast I was given," but also confided, "It is honest to say that I am left with regret and a lump in my throat at the fact that the work and job I loved are disappearing."
Behind this reorganization is the controversy that followed the death of weathercaster Oh Yo-anna. After Oh died in Sep. 2024, her obituary became known only about three months later. The fallout grew after reports said a will was found on the deceased's mobile phone containing content suggesting workplace bullying. The bereaved family is said to have filed a damages lawsuit against the person identified as the perpetrator.
MBC formed a fact-finding committee at the end of Jan. last year, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) announced the results of a special labor inspection in May of the same year, concluding that "there was bullying within the organization." However, it also explained that because the individuals were not recognized as workers under the Labor Standards Act, there were limits to applying the legal provisions on workplace bullying.
Earlier, in Sep. (the first anniversary of Oh Yo-anna's death), MBC formalized the policy shift, saying it would "abolish the freelance weathercaster system and introduce a weather and climate expert system to proceed with full-time hiring." At the time, MBC explained that the new system would go beyond simply delivering the weather to include reporting, appearing on air, and content production, in order to provide more specialized weather and climate information, and said it had left open the possibility for existing freelance weathercasters to apply. In Oct., MBC President Ahn Hyung-joon issued a public apology and presented an honorary employee certificate to the bereaved family.