Suga donates 5 billion KRW to Severance Hospital to build "Min Yoongi Center" for autism treatment

Developing music integrated programs after meeting children with autism... Seven months of preparations with Professor Cheon Geun-ah

"Music is a channel to communicate with the world"... Highest-ever celebrity donation to Yonsei Medical Center

BTS member Suga (real name Min Yoongi) has donated 5 billion KRW (approx US$ 3.6 million) to Severance Hospital to help children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receive treatment and achieve social independence. With his donation, the hospital will establish the "Min Yoongi Treatment Center."

Severance Hospital announced on June 23 that they held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Min Yoongi Treatment Center on the first floor of the hospital’s main building.

Scheduled to be completed in September, the Min Yoongi Treatment Center will provide support for mental health in children and adolescents, offering language, psychological, and behavioral therapies. It will also run various programs that combine clinical practice and research.

Severance Hospital explained, "Despite being active with BTS, Suga has consistently engaged in philanthropic work and maintained a deep interest in mental health, psychological and behavioral issues, especially adolescent depression. He has sought ways to help others through his musical talents and capabilities."

In November last year, Suga met Professor Cheon Geun-ah, a leading authority in child psychiatry at Severance Hospital. Through several meetings, he learned that children with ASD need personalized, life-cycle-based long-term treatment rather than short-term care.

Suga agreed with the idea that more than 10 years of mid- to long-term treatment is required to bring about meaningful changes in children with ASD and decided to donate 5 billion KRW to help build the necessary treatment center. This is the largest donation ever made by a celebrity in the history of Yonsei Medical Center.

From late last year to early this year, Suga and Professor Cheon discussed the creation of the center and the development of a social skills training program using music for children and adolescents with ASD. As a result, a new social development group program incorporating music content—called **"MIND"** (Music, Interaction, Network, Diversity)—was created.

The MIND program aims to enhance interaction and sensory experiences through music, provide opportunities to build social relationships and communication, teach children how to naturally connect with others through group experiences, and foster an inclusive society that respects individual diversity.

Children participating in the program play instruments, sing songs, write lyrics, and express their emotions and thoughts through music and writing.

From March to June this year, Suga personally met with children with ASD on weekends to help develop the program. He played instruments such as the guitar, helping children match rhythms and harmonies, interact through music, and expand their emotional expression. He also taught them how to play instruments.

Severance Hospital shared the program’s positive results, stating, "As the program progressed, children showed noticeable improvements in emotional and verbal expression. Their social skills were also trained through cooperative activities and learning to wait their turn with others."

For instance, 10-year-old "Oh" and 12-year-old "Lee," who were previously unresponsive to regular speech therapy, voluntarily chose instruments and played them in rhythm. Meanwhile, 18-year-old "Kim," who rarely expressed himself verbally or emotionally, began to show feelings through facial expressions while playing the saxophone and collaborating with peers.

The Min Yoongi Treatment Center plans to further develop the MIND program and establish a self-sustaining music therapy model. After the center’s completion in September, regular programs will be expanded and newly introduced.

Suga stated, “Through the past seven months of preparation and volunteer work with Professor Cheon Geun-ah, I deeply realized that music can be a valuable channel to express the heart and communicate with the world. I am immensely grateful and happy to have been part of the healing journey for children with ASD. I will continue to support efforts so more children can become integral members of our society.”

Professor Cheon added, “I was deeply moved by Suga’s sincere and intellectual attitude throughout the process. The ultimate goal of the Min Yoongi Treatment Center and the MIND program is to help children with ASD grow into independent and healthy members of society through music, and to break down prejudices and improve public understanding of autism.”

Suga had been serving as a social service agent since September 2023 as part of his mandatory military service and was officially discharged on June 21.

Original article: Yonhap News