BTS Suga Opens Revolutionary Music Therapy Center for Children With Autism in Seoul

September 30, 2025 - A groundbreaking autism treatment facility funded by BTS member Suga opened today at Severance Hospital in Seoul, introducing music-based therapy as a core treatment approach for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

The Min Yoongi Treatment Center, named after Suga's legal name, launched with a $3.6 million donation the K-pop star made in June-representing the largest contribution from a Korean entertainer in Yonsei University Medical System's history.

Beyond Financial Support: A Personal Commitment

What sets this initiative apart is Suga's hands-on involvement. From March through June 2025, he spent weekends volunteering at the hospital, playing guitar and teaching music to children with autism while helping develop treatment protocols.

"He never arrived late-he'd come early to practice guitar and meet with therapists," said Professor Cheon Geun-ah, the center's director and a pediatric psychiatry specialist. "The children didn't know he was BTS's Suga. They just saw him as their music teacher."

Suga's motivation stems from deep concern about youth mental health. During his first meeting with Professor Cheon in November 2024, he asked why suicide remains the leading cause of death among Korean teenagers, hospital officials said.

Their discussions revealed that children with autism need long-term, customized treatment spanning ten years or more-care existing short-term programs couldn't provide. Recognizing this gap, Suga committed to funding a specialized center.

The MIND Program: Music as Treatment

At the facility's core is MIND (Music, Interaction, Network, Diversity)-a therapeutic program Suga co-developed with Professor Cheon that represents the world's first art-integrated treatment system at a university hospital.

The approach uses music's nonverbal nature to reach children with limited cognitive abilities or verbal responses. Participants choose their own instruments, encouraging self-expression, then learn social skills through ensemble playing-waiting for turns, coordinating with others, responding to cues.

Results have been striking. Two children who showed minimal engagement during conventional speech therapy spontaneously selected instruments and played rhythms together during Suga's sessions. Another child playing saxophone, who previously exhibited almost no verbal or emotional expression, began displaying emotions facially during group activities and responding to therapist encouragement.

State-of-the-Art Facility

The center features specialized therapy rooms for language and behavioral treatment, plus a music therapy room equipped with professional acoustic and soundproofing systems. The waiting area displays wooden artwork by Lee Gyu-jae, an artist with autism spectrum disorder.

Severance Hospital plans facility expansion as programs develop and demand grows.

Looking Ahead

Two major events are scheduled for program participants before year's end. "Camp on the Spectrum" in November will bring approximately ten children and teens with autism together for a two-day residential program featuring band practice, parent education, and family activities. In December, participants will perform publicly at Yonsei University's main auditorium.

The center aims to expand beyond music therapy to incorporate visual arts, physical education, and other creative disciplines. Plans include training specialized therapists, publishing treatment manuals, conducting clinical research, and partnering with international autism organizations to globalize the MIND approach.

"We aim not only to enhance therapeutic outcomes through music but also to teach social skills," Professor Cheon said. "As people witness children with autism working toward independence, public understanding will significantly improve."

Reflecting on his seven-month involvement, Suga shared: "I deeply felt that music can be a precious channel for expressing one's heart and communicating with the world. Participating in the treatment process for children with ASD was a great source of gratification and happiness."

The initiative has already inspired fan fundraising efforts and heightened autism care awareness across Korean social media, positioning the center as a potential model for music-driven mental health innovation nationwide.