[Report] "I Want to Be a Good Mom"... Korea's First Women's Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center 'Saebitteo'

First Female Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center 'Saebitteo' Opened on the 9th
Residents Participated in Outpatient Programs Before Opening with Strong Will for Quick Rehabilitation
Wake-up at 7 AM, Tight Schedule Including 'QT' and Rehabilitation Education

"I wanted to become a good mother as soon as possible, so I participated in the outpatient program while waiting for admission. I'm glad I was able to enter the center even if it was late."

South Korea's first female drug addiction rehabilitation center, Saebitteo, opened on the 9th in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Lee (24, female), a mother of two children and a resident, expressed her determination as above. Saebitteo is a facility established by Gyeonggi-do DARC (Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center), a private male drug addiction rehabilitation center, to provide treatment and rehabilitation for female drug addicts who had no place to receive rehabilitation treatment.

At Saebitteo, the nation's first women's drug addiction rehabilitation center, residents are organizing household items in the kitchen with the administrator (center). [Image provided by Saebitteo]

The day at Saebitteo, visited by the reporter on the 22nd, started early in the morning. After waking up at 7 a.m., showering, and having breakfast, they strengthened their will for rehabilitation through QT worship (Christian Bible meditation time). After the worship, they had a short cleaning time before moving to Gyeonggi-do DARC to participate in the program. Since the number of female residents is small, the regular rehabilitation program is still conducted jointly.

Upon arriving at DARC, they exchanged greetings of "Good morning" with male residents. Choi (34, male), who is undergoing rehabilitation, explained, "Everyone knows how difficult it is to stay without running away at the beginning of admission, so we welcome and support those who 'did not run away and came back'." The morning greetings are also part of the treatment process.

The DARC meeting is a time for residents to strengthen their will for abstinence and encourage each other. It takes place every morning, with residents taking turns leading the session. The discussion topics are set by the moderator. There are rules in the DARC meeting. When speaking, one must always state, "I am addict 'Seong (surname)'." After that, the participants chant the surname 'Seong' before starting to speak. After speaking, participants respond with "Thank you." One of the center's teachings is that recovery begins with acknowledging oneself as an addict.

Residents of the drug addiction rehabilitation centers 'Saebitteo' and 'Gyeonggi-do Dark' are holding hands together and singing "We can recover" after finishing the morning Dark meeting. The residents wearing yellow and gray on the right are from Saebitteo. Photo by Tae-won Choi skking@

Contrary to expectations that repentance would occur in a self-blaming atmosphere, the residents appeared calm yet bright. The most noticeable expression was "family." The residents referred to each other as family. At first, it was puzzling. But soon, nodding in agreement came from hearing about their loneliness and isolation struggles in conversation. They seemed to rely on each other as family members, enduring the pain of abstinence together.

Amid the predominantly low-pitched voices, a clear voice said, "I am addict 'Baek'." It was Baek (26, female), a courageous Saebitteo resident. She said with an embarrassed smile, "It's more bearable than I thought. I've realized many things about myself that I didn't know and am trying to fix them." Afterward, time continued with sharing worries and personal stories. Soon, everyone held hands and shouted, "We can recover," concluding the morning DARC meeting.

Residents are focusing on a lecture by Professor Kim Young-ho of the Department of Addiction Rehabilitation Welfare at Eulji University on the 22nd. Professor Kim lectured on how to manage emotions when drug cravings arise.
Photo by Choi Tae-won skking@

At noon, the residents went for lunch. After a short break, at 2 p.m., a lecture by Professor Kim Young-ho from Eulji University’s Department of Addiction Rehabilitation Welfare began. Professor Kim delivered a calm yet humorous lecture on managing emotions when cravings arise. He urged the residents to become 'recoverers' rather than 'addicts.' He emphasized living life proactively as recoverers, breaking free from addiction. He stressed living life with reason, not swayed by emotions and instincts triggered by drugs.

After the afternoon lecture, residents finished the regular program and gathered in small groups to exercise and read books to relieve stress. Some were preparing for the next day's program.

After a packed schedule, the residents who met with the reporter expressed strong determination for rehabilitation. Lee (24, female), a mother of two, revealed her true feelings, saying she entered Saebitteo to become a good mother. She had been admitted and discharged six times to quit drugs but could never overcome the cravings. Even when not under the influence, her physical condition worsened, unable to control her body properly, weighing only 38 kg at a height in the mid-160 cm range. Eventually, she sought the center on her own will.

She cautiously revealed the reason for starting drug use. The husband of another mother, A, whom she relied on while raising children, was a drug dealer. A’s husband posted videos of drug use in group chats targeting mothers stressed by childcare, encouraging drug purchases. Initially, Lee cursed at A and left the chat. But overwhelmed by severe childcare stress, she was trapped by the mistaken thought, "If I take drugs and die, I can die easily," contacted A, and fell into drug addiction.

Lee said her heart aches and she feels sorry every time she sees her children at church on Sundays. The children only know that their mother is sick and receiving treatment. She said, "My five-year-old firstborn speaks well and always expresses regret, asking why I don't stay with her. The two-year-old second child has just started talking and says, 'I miss you, Mom.'" She added, "My mother, who takes care of the children, says they pretend to be bright when they meet but cry after parting. It really breaks my heart, and I always vow to succeed in rehabilitation and become a good mother."

Schedule of 'Saebitteo' and 'Gyeonggido Dark'/Photo by Taewon Choi skking@

Spending a day with the residents, the most noticeable point was the tight schedule and strict living rules. It was like the military. Going out and contact with the outside world were strictly controlled. Saebitteo residents have their mobile phones confiscated for the first month. This is the center’s policy that "changing lifestyle habits is necessary to quit drugs." Director Lim Sang-hyun, who opened Saebitteo, also has 40 years of experience as a drug addict after first encountering drugs at age 17. The strict lifestyle is a method to overcome drugs based on his experience.

In fact, residents cited strict living rules as the biggest difference from hospital inpatient treatment. Lee said, "I was hospitalized six times, but hospitals only provide medicine and food without regulating lifestyle at all. Addicts secretly bring drugs into the hospital and use them together. I even learned more about drug types and dealers in the hospital than outside."

Until now, there was no place for female drug offenders in South Korea to undergo detoxification treatment and rehabilitation. Saebitteo, the first female drug addiction rehabilitation center, only opened on the 9th of this month. Women wanting to escape drugs mainly sought alcohol rehabilitation centers. However, alcohol rehabilitation centers only have programs and facilities for alcohol addicts, making them less effective for drug addicts.

In this situation, residents expressed the need for additional drug addiction rehabilitation centers regardless of gender. Choi said, "I have served time in prison and been in hospitals, but the actual rehabilitation effect was minimal. More people became dealers or learned about new drugs."

Because drugs are highly addictive, failure to rehabilitate often leads to reoffending. According to the 'Drug Crime White Paper' published by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office last year, there were 16,153 drug offenders in 2021. Among them, 5,916 were punished for committing drug crimes again, accounting for 36.6% of all drug offenders. About four out of ten drug offenders relapse into drug use.

The first women's drug addiction rehabilitation center in Korea, 'Saebitteo' Director Im Sang-hyun
[Image provided by Saebitteo]

Director Lim lamented that although many want to be admitted, financial issues often prevent acceptance, urging the government to ease support criteria. Saebitteo has a total capacity of four people, with two currently admitted. Dozens of addicts are waiting, but due to limited capacity, they must select those with a "firm will for rehabilitation."

The male center Gyeonggi-do DARC, with a total capacity of 15, opened in Toegyewon, Namyangju in 2019 and moved to Hopyeong-dong after about four years to meet facility registration standards. However, financial support remains insufficient. It still does not meet the standards for mental rehabilitation facility staff. According to the Mental Health Welfare Act Enforcement Rules, a mental rehabilitation facility must have one facility director, one cook, one mental health specialist, one rehabilitation activity staff, and one rehabilitation activity assistant each. DARC, which admits about 80 addicts and has about 50 successful rehabilitations, only has Director Lim as the resident manager, one first-class social worker, and two volunteers who were former residents.

Director Lim said, "My wife and I both work unpaid, running a facility that provides lodging and meals for 500,000 won per person. Professors and lecturers who come to give lectures also volunteer, but the facility requires five staff members to be recognized. Even calculating minimum wage, that’s at least 10 million won per month. It’s not easy to endure a monthly deficit of 10 million won during the one-year evaluation period."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.