A few people know that a shelter is offered for families of young patients on Pusan National University’s Yangsan Campus. Even fewer are aware that this facility was established by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a nonprofit organization originally founded by the well-known fast-food chain McDonald’s. To celebrate Family Month, “Channel PNU” visited the 51st RMHC House—Yangsan House—on April 4th and 29th to highlight its significance.

■What is RMHC Yangsan House?

According to a Channel PNU report on May 2nd, RMHC began in 1974 with McDonald’s financial and volunteer support, and evolved into a nonprofit foundation in 1984. It now operates child welfare programs tailored to local needs in 62 countries. In 2019, RMHC established the Yangsan House on PNU, which hosts the only specialized children’s hospital in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region. With a slogan “Creating Special Miracles Together,” it provides a place for children with serious illnesses and their families to stay during treatment.

The Yangsan House, which the reporting team personally toured, was a two-story complex facility with 10 rooms and amenities, covering an area of 1,520㎡. Each floor has a shared kitchen, and the facility includes a playroom, a library, a laundry room, a rooftop garden and more. Most of the facilities at Yangsan House were provided through sponsorships by companies such as Maeil Dairies, Coca-Cola, E-Mart, Ceragem, and others.

While children are treated at the hospital, their families can stay at Yangsan House for free and receive meals. “We provide one sandwich or lunchbox per day for each family,” said Yang Mi-Dong (Associate Director, Yangsan House). An official from the Children’s Hospital Support Association added, “We supply families staying at Yangsan House with daily necessities such as ready-to-eat meals like instant rice and laundry detergent.”

Pediatric patients’ families are admitted to the Yangsan House based on a comprehensive evaluation of various factors, including child’s health conditions. Admission priority is determined by medical criteria such as illness severity and length of hospitalization, as well as the proximity to the hospital. On average, families of hospitalized children make up the majority of residents, but those whose children receive outpatient treatment from distant areas may also be eligible. Park Won-Seop (Senior Director, Yangsan House), said, “After application, admission is determined based on priority criteria. When admission is finalized, RMHC Yangsan House provides guidance to guardians.”

Most families staying at Yangsan House come from locations far from Yangsan or Busan. Current residents include families from Naju (South Jeolla Province), Gwangju, and Yeongdeok (North Gyeongsang Province). Chung Jae-Min (Prof. of Urology, PNU), director of the Children’s Hospital and also a board member of RMHC, shared, “A family from South Africa has stayed here for over three months. We strive to be a partner in recovery by easing the housing and living burdens of families during long-term treatment.”

Families travel from such far-flung regions because specialized children’s hospitals are rare in Korea. PNU Children’s Hospital is equipped with both a pediatric intensive care unit and a neonatal ICU, treating rare and severe pediatric conditions. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service’s website as of May 2nd, only 11 tertiary hospitals nationwide have pediatric ICUs. Prof. Chung said, “PNU Children’s hospital is children-centered—from infrastructure and staffing and to medical systems. PNU Children’s Hospital is a vital medical asset in safeguarding future generations.”

■Bridging the Distance Between Families and Their Sick Children

Despite their challenging conditions, the families of sick children whom we met at Yangsan House, expressed gratitude for being able to stay at Yangsan House. Beyond medical expenses, accommodation expenses near hospitals are often a heavy financial burden. Lee (38, Buk-gu, Ulsan), whose daughter suffers from a rare disease, said, “Staying at Yangsan House has relieved the anxiety of having to leave my child at the hospital, not to mention our financial stress. Thanks to its kind support, even a tough past has become a meaningful memory.”

According to RMHC, studies have shown that children recover better when they can be with their families more often. Located just a five-minute walk from the PNU Children’s Hospital, Yangsan House provides an ideal environment for recovery. Park said, “Research shows that children who spend time with their families have higher recovery and survival rates. Even if it’s only for a short time each day, we hope families can stay nearby and witness their child’s progress.”

Prof. Chung emphasized his ongoing commitment as the hospital director. He said, “I hope the children in PNU Children’s hospital can smile again during Family Month. We are fully committed to creating moments of less pain and more happiness.” He also called for greater societal attention, adding, “I hope our community takes an interest in and comes closer to the lives of these brave children.”

Reporter Hwang Ju-Won

Translated by Seo Yoo-Jung