1955 Burger and Quarter Pounder still off the menu

Halted sales of two McDonald’s beef burgers - the 1955 Burger and Quarter Pounder with Cheese - may continue until the end of this month.

A McDonald’s Korea spokesman had said earlier this month supplies for both products would be normalized in mid-January.

But phone calls to multiple branches and McDonald’s home delivery service implied that a large number of local McDonald’s did not resume sales of both products. Most branches that received the call said they were not aware of when it will restart either, citing “stock shortage.”

An employee in one branch in Seoul said, “It might be hard to see both products back on the menu before early February.”

Earlier this month, McDonald’s halted sales of several burgers in Korea. The main reason was a supply shortage of beef patties brought from Australia and New Zealand. The 1955 and Quarter Pounder with Cheese burgers were the last to stay off the list for consumers.

McDonald’s Korea said Monday that the current situation was more of a distribution problem between local branches rather than a supply shortage from abroad.

“Some stores have much higher demand than others so the ingredient supply status can differ as well,” said a spokesman. “It’s hard to say when the situation will be completely normalized because it differs so much per branch. But we’re trying to restart as soon as possible.”

By Song Kyoung-son