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BTS’s SUGA Contributes ₩5 Billion to Create Autism Treatment Center Bearing His Name

On June 23, SUGA of BTS made headlines again—not for music this time, but for a major charitable effort supporting children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Severance Hospital teamed up with him to establish the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, a specialized facility focused on providing tailored care for individuals with ASD. The center officially held its groundbreaking ceremony at Jejungwon Hall on that day.

This new center aims to offer a variety of therapies, including language, psychological, and behavioral treatments, blending clinical care with research programs to better address mental health. What’s special is that this project reflects SUGA’s long-standing dedication to mental health causes, especially among the youth, where he’s often emphasized the importance of addressing depression and emotional struggles.

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Back in November, SUGA met Professor Chun Geun-ah, a leading child psychiatrist from Severance Hospital. They talked about the limitations of current short-term interventions for ASD and realized there was a real need for a center focused on mid- to long-term, personalized care. Inspired by these discussions, SUGA donated ₩5 billion to the hospital—marking the largest single donation ever made by an artist to Severance or Yonsei Medical Center.

Even before the center’s official opening, SUGA got directly involved with a new music-based therapy for children and adolescents called MIND. Developed from late 2023 through early 2024 alongside Professor Chun, MIND stands for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity, and uses music as a tool to enhance social skills and emotional expression. The program features activities like playing instruments, singing, writing lyrics, and expressing feelings through music and writing.

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Between March and June, SUGA participated in weekend sessions with the kids. He played instruments alongside them, guided them in rhythmic engagement, and encouraged self-expression and teamwork. Remarkably, children who previously hardly communicated verbally or emotionally started to open up, express themselves, and connect more with their peers.

The program really helped kids with limited verbal skills or nonverbal tendencies build social connections and emotional awareness.

Once the center construction is done in September, it will expand therapy options, including applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and speech therapy. It will also back academic research and clinical trials to ensure the treatments remain effective and credible over time. Training professionals to keep these music-based therapies up to standard is another key goal.

Professor Chun shared her gratitude for SUGA’s involvement:

"Beyond financial support, SUGA’s sincerity and consistent volunteer work over the past several months have been deeply inspiring. His dedication to children with ASD is truly commendable. The ultimate goal of the Min Yoongi Treatment Center and MIND program is to help these children grow as independent, healthy members of society, while also changing societal perceptions of autism" Professor Chun Geun-ah

SUGA also reflected on his experience:

"Over the past seven months of working with Professor Chun, I’ve realized how powerful music can be as a tool to express emotions and connect with the world. It’s been a blessing to be involved in the treatment process for children with ASD. I’ll continue to support efforts that help more children become part of our community" Min Yoongi (SUGA)

Overall, SUGA’s involvement is more than just charity. It’s a hands-on effort to create long-lasting change in how children with ASD receive care and how society views autism itself. The Min Yoongi Treatment Center and MIND program look set to make a real difference in many lives.

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