On September 15, 2024, weathercaster Oh Yoanna died at 28. Her family’s damages lawsuit against a former senior colleague, identified as A, is moving forward. After “the possibility of fabrication” of her suicide note was raised in court, the family said they were deeply wounded and vowed to prove the note’s authenticity through digital forensics.
At the third hearing on the 27th at the Seoul Central District Court, A’s side floated alternative causes tied to Oh’s death, pointing to her prior treatment for depression, drinking, and a recent relationship. They also argued the suicide note and other materials submitted by the family “need verification.”
The family pushed back forcefully. “We understand people can argue many things in court, but suggesting we may have faked her note shattered us,” they told SBS Entertainment News. “Why would we ever manipulate our child’s final words?”
They added they plan to run a full digital forensic review of Oh’s phone. “There are hundreds of voice recordings, memos, and diary entries intact―not just the note. That alone can speak for itself,” they said, adding, “In the days before her death, our daughter kept asking those around her, ‘Was it my fault?’ All of that is recorded.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Employment and Labor concluded via a special labor inspection that Oh had been subjected to workplace bullying. However, because of her employment status, she wasn’t recognized as an “employee” under the Labor Standards Act, so the workplace bullying provisions did not formally apply. Even so, the agency pointed to a hierarchical culture and repeated inappropriate remarks within the organization.
Responding to A’s claims about depression, alcohol, and a boyfriend being potential causes, the family said, “She first received treatment for depression in April 2022. In her diary she wrote, ‘When you told me I wasn’t [omitted]… it hurt so much I just drank.’ And we understand she’d only been dating her boyfriend for about two months.” They added, “We get that the other side is trying to survive this. But we’re her family. In a case where someone has died, to challenge even the authenticity of her note just to avoid responsibility is devastating.”
Three family members are seeking 510 million won in a civil suit against A. Core issues include the events leading up to Oh’s death, the unlawfulness of the alleged bullying, and whether there is a causal link between the two.
The next hearing is slated for April.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)