For a working mother in her 30s using the pseudonym Lim Ji-hyun, alcohol began as a brief escape at the end of the day. After putting her child to sleep, she would pour one or two glasses of soju, a clear Korean liquor, treating the drink as a small reward after hours of work and child care. She felt pressure not to fail at work or home, and that pressure gradually pushed drinking from occasional comfort into a daily routine. “I used to feel better when drinking,” Lim said. As the routine continued, her drinking increased. What began as a way to clear her mind turned into binge drinking, and mistakes followed. She forgot her child’s schedule and arrived late for work — lapses she had never before experienced. After her family urged her to seek medical care, Lim went to a hospital, received a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and began inpatient treatment. Drinking alone becomes routine Her case reflects a broader shift that health experts say deserves more attention. A Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency report showed that the monthly binge-drinking rate among women in their 30s r
