McDonald's Korea Launches 'Mom's Bed' Campaign Highlighting Caregiver Hardships

In partnership with Leo Burnett Korea, McDonald's Korea has embarked on a compelling campaign named 'Mom’s Bed,' drawing attention to the arduous circumstances endured by mothers and caregivers while tending to their hospitalized children.

The initiative sheds light on the plight of countless South Korean caregivers who spend days, weeks, or even years on cramped and uncomfortable beds beside their sick children, a scenario that's both heart-wrenching and overlooked.

The Reality of Caregiving in South Korea

According to Marketech, the campaign film poignantly illustrates the cramped conditions of hospital caregiver beds, highlighting a norm where parents, primarily mothers or legal guardians, are expected to be by their child's side due to legal obligations.

While normative, this caregiving culture often shadows the tremendous sacrifices and discomfort endured by caregivers, making the 'Mom’s Bed' campaign a much-needed platform for acknowledgment and change.

Bridging the Gap in Care

Little Black Book noted that amidst this background, McDonald’s aims to underscore the critical need for a Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) establishment in Seoul. With the only existing RMHC house in Yangsan, far from the capital where most children's hospitals are located, McDonald's initiative is not just timely but essential.

The proposed RMHC house in Seoul will offer around 100 rooms, complete with a kitchen, playroom, and learning space, as a comfortable refuge for up to 100 families of ailing children.

An Inspiring Movement for Change

The 'Mom’s Bed' campaign took a creative leap with installations across Seoul. These featured tiny benches symbolic of the inadequate caregiver beds in hospitals, accompanied by QR codes narrating real mothers’ stories.

This innovative approach highlighted the issue and spurred a movement, evidenced by unprecedented donations after a notable installation at Goyang Starfield, one of Seoul's largest shopping malls. Influencers and ambassadors joined the cause, amplifying the campaign's message and call for support.

A Positive Future Ahead

The overwhelming response to the campaign has paved the way for Seoul's first RMHC house, slated to open in 2024, adjacent to Seoul’s Children’s Hospital. McDonald’s Korea’s CMO, Haeyeon Lee, and Publicis Groupe Korea’s Chief Creative Officer, SooHee Yang, expressed their gratitude and hope, emphasizing the campaign's role in highlighting caregivers' struggles and easing their burden.

Through 'Mom’s Bed,' McDonald’s Korea not only highlights the overlooked sacrifices of caregivers but also actively contributes to providing tangible solutions, marking a significant step towards comforting those in the throes of caregiving.

Photo: Janet Ganbold/Unsplash