BTS Suga Establishes 'Min Yoongi Treatment Center' in Collaboration with Severance Hospital… Donates 5 Billion Won for Children with Autism

BTS's Suga (real name Min Yoongi) has taken the initiative to establish a professional treatment center to help children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) receive treatment and achieve independence.

Through collaboration with Severance Hospital, he is also participating in the creation of an innovative treatment model centered around music, going beyond simple donations to directly engage in the treatment field and research development.

Healing through Music… Direct Participation in the Development of the 'MIND' Program

On the 23rd, Severance Hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Min Yoongi Treatment Center' for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder on the first floor of the Jejungguan building.

This treatment center will operate long-term programs that include language, psychological, and behavioral therapies, as well as mental health support, linking clinical services with research.

Last November, Suga met with Professor Cheon Geun Ah, an authority in child psychiatry at Severance Hospital, and gained deep insight into the realities and challenges of ASD treatment. After several discussions, he empathized with the urgent need for long-term treatment and expressed his intention to donate 5 billion won to Severance. This donation marks the largest individual contribution by an artist to Severance Hospital and the entire Yonsei Medical Center.

Through ongoing discussions, the two developed the social skills training program 'MIND.' MIND stands for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity, and it is a group program that systematizes the process through which children express emotions and learn relationships through music.

Since March to June of this year, Suga has directly participated in the program by meeting with actual children with autism every weekend. The children engaged in activities such as playing instruments, singing, and writing to music, allowing them to naturally express their emotions and thoughts.

A Genuine Commitment Over 7 Months… "I Will Help Them Be Together as Members of Society"

The Min Yoongi Treatment Center plans to enhance the MIND program and continuously expand music-based social skills training for children with autism. It will also incorporate existing therapies such as ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and speech therapy while pursuing clinical research, academic publications, and the creation of manuals to prove the treatment's effectiveness.

Professor Cheon Geun Ah expressed gratitude, stating, "I deeply appreciate Suga's genuine talent donations and volunteer work over the past several months, going beyond simple financial support. I hope that through this program, children with autism can grow into independent beings and that our society can overcome prejudice against disabilities."

Beyond Donations… "Music is a Path to Open Hearts and Connect with the World"

Suga shared, "Through this preparation process, I felt again that music can be a precious channel for expressing the heart and communicating with the world. I will continue to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, helping them to be proud members of our society beyond the treatment process."

This project is regarded as a case of an individual filling a gap in healthcare and welfare, transcending the social responsibilities of K-pop artists while demonstrating personal capability and sincerity.

The treatment center aims to open in 2026, signaling a paradigm shift in the domestic autism treatment environment.

Image source: Provided by Yonsei Medical Center, Photo: Insight