McDonald’s in South Korea to offer free burgers to army recruits at world’s largest bootcamp
Free meals will also be offered to recruits not visited by their families
By Park Jae-hyuk
McDonald’s Korea decided to offer 13,000 Happy Value burgers free to recruits at the Korea Army Training Centre (KATC) in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province.
The U.S. burger chain’s Seoul affiliate said that CEO Cho Ju-yeon and KATC Commander Maj. Gen. Koo Jae-seo signed an agreement at the world’s largest boot camp where army recruits go through five weeks of military training.
The newly opened Nonsan McDonald’s store nearby will deliver 500 burgers at a time, so as to offer 13,000 burgers in total before 2018.
McDonald’s Korea also plans to offer free meals every week to recruits who are not visited by their families. The company vowed to cooperate with the KATC as well, to contribute to the community and to encourage recruits and soldiers to be the best they can be.
“I’m happy to encourage army recruits, who are enduring hard times for the country and the people,” Cho said. “As we opened a store near the boot camp, McDonald’s Korea will actively contribute to the community, recruits and soldiers.”
Even before the event, the woman has been recognised for her interest in the military.
Earlier this year, she ordered the Seoul Station store to sell Big Macs and other hamburgers in the morning for parents who were travelling by train to visit their sons in the military.
Before her decision, all McDonald’s stores worldwide had only sold breakfast menu items consisting of muffins and hotcakes, so the Seoul Station branch has become the world’s only store selling hamburgers in the morning.
“Despite opposition by some executives, the CEO pushed ahead with her decision, as she was concerned about young soldiers like her 19-year-old son,” a McDonald’s Korea official said.
On top of the event for soldiers, McDonald’s Korea is offering medium-size iced coffee for free to 300 customers by order of arrival in stores nationwide.