Inna Christine Cabel is a digital editor at The Korea Times. Prior to moving to Korea, she worked as an editorial assistant and writer in the Philippines. She occasionally writes about trends, pop culture and music. Reach her at innacabel@koreatimes.co.kr.
BTS' Suga donates $3.6 mil. to build autism center at Severance Hospital
Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, donated $3.6 million to Yonsei University's Severance Hospital / Newsis
By Inna Christine Cabel, Kwak Yeon-soo
Suga, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, donated 5 billion won ($3.6 million) to Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital to help establish a treatment center for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), partnering with the hospital to support long-term care and research for their social independence.
The hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Monday. Min Yoon-gi is Suga’s real name.
The center, set to open in September, will provide psychiatric support for individuals with ASD, aiming to establish programs using language, psychological and behavioral therapies geared toward developing skills for social independence.
"Over the last seven months preparing for the program launch and engaging in volunteer work, I have come to understand that music can be a positive outlet for expressing emotions and communicating with the world,” Suga said in a statement. “I am so happy and grateful that I was able to participate in the treatment process for children with ASD.”
According to a press release from Severance Hospital, the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center aims to integrate music into social skills training for young adults and children with ASD.
Suga worked closely with Cheon Keun-ah, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yonsei University College of Medicine, to develop the “MIND” program, which stands for Music, Interaction, Network and Diversity. The program's core mission is to enhance sensory experiences through musical instruments, singing and expressing emotions through music. It combines these elements with traditional social skills therapy to provide a more holistic approach to autism care.
Since November, Suga has been working with Cheon, a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. Through their meetings, he learned that some patients with ASD need customized treatment, but it can be difficult to meet those needs with short-term therapies. This led to the decision to establish a specialized treatment center that can provide mid- and long-term treatment plans.
The K-pop superstar, who completed his mandatory military service on Saturday, also volunteered at the hospital on weekends from March to June of this year. Suga met and played the guitar for children with autism, helping them match rhythms, communicate and share their emotions through music.
Suga, who built his name with BTS making music that "gives people hope," has long been known for tackling topics such as mental health and depression.
"Even while performing with BTS, he has donated to charities and shown a strong interest in helping young people with depression and behavioral issues," according to a press release from Severance Hospital. "He has sought to find ways to use his music to make a positive difference."
Suga’s donation is the largest donation ever made by a celebrity to Severance Children’s Hospital and the Yonsei University Health System.
Inna Christine Cabel
Kwak Yeon-soo
Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.