McRefugee

McRefugees is a neologism and McWord referring to those who stay overnight in a 24-hour McDonald's fast food restaurant.^[1]

History

The term was first created in Japanese language: マック難民.^[2] (That term has been largely replaced by ネットカフェ難民, literally "net cafe refugee".) In Japan, most McDonald's restaurants are operated around the clock. Due to unemployment and high rents and transportation costs in Japan, McRefugees are forced to stay at a McDonald's overnight.

The phenomenon and word spread to Hong Kong as 麥難民,^[3] where some McRefugees play video games and are known as McGamers.^[4] McDonald's opened 24-hour branches in mainland China in September 2006,^[5] which quickly attracted McRefugees.^[5]

Shanghai incident

On March 19, 2010, a McRefugee in a McDonald's at Xujiahui, Shanghai was told by a member of McDonald's staff named Li Feng not to sleep in the store. Li was then stabbed with a knife in response. He died of the wound.^[6]

See also

• NEET
• Parasite single
• Net cafe refugee

References

1. ^ "'McRefugees' in Hong Kong?". USA Today. 5/1/2007. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-05-01-mcrefugees_N.htm. 
2. ^ "コーヒー1杯で「宿泊」 「マック難民」が急増". Livedoor. 2007年03月30日. http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3101551/. Retrieved 17 Sept 2010. 
3. ^ "日式麥難民現象殺到香港". 蘋果日報. 2007年04月30日. http://www1.hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20070430&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=12731&art_id=7052150. 
4. ^ "McD's shelters 'McRefugees'". New24/Associated Press. 2007-05-01. http://www.news24.com/World/News/McDs-shelters-McRefugees-20070501. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Wang, Danyang (2010-06-02). "Homeless discover home comforts in restaurants". China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/02/content_9919930_2.htm. 
6. ^ Wang, Danyang (2010-06-02). "My kind of place". China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/02/content_9920334.htm.