BTS member Suga (real name Min Yoon-gi) donated 5 billion won for the establishment of a specialized treatment center for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, conveying the meaning of heartfelt sharing.

Severance Hospital held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center' on the 23rd, which supports the treatment and independence of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. This project is not just simple sponsorship but a result of Suga's long contemplation and direct participation in its preparation.

Suga has always shown a deep interest in adolescent mental health, particularly depression and autism spectrum disorder, while balancing his music activities. During his contemplation of 'what can be done through music,' he formed a connection with Professor Cheon Geun-a of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Severance Hospital last November. Professor Cheon is an authority in the field of child psychiatry in Korea and has met numerous patients and families in practical treatment settings.

The meeting between the two did not end with a simple greeting. Through several serious discussions, Suga deeply resonated with the understanding that autism spectrum disorder has limitations with short-term treatments and that sustainable and customized support is needed throughout the life cycle to create meaningful change. This empathy and conviction ultimately led to the significant decision of donating 5 billion won.

According to Severance Hospital, this donation is the largest amount ever given by an artist across the Yonsei Medical Center. The 'Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center,' which will be established with this donation, will provide integrated treatments such as language, psychological, and behavioral therapies, and will operate as an innovative model encompassing both clinical practice and research.

He did not stop here. Suga was not just a donor but actively participated in the actual program development process. Together with Professor Cheon, he devised a social skills training program called 'MIND,' which incorporates music, and refined the program by meeting with children every weekend from March to June to play the guitar and share feelings.

'MIND' is a social skills enhancement program imbued with four core values: ▲Music (sensory experiences through music), ▲Interaction (interaction), ▲Network (relationship formation within the community), and ▲Diversity (respect for individual diversity). The children learned to keep rhythm and express emotions through lyrics while naturally collaborating with others. Children who previously struggled to express themselves verbally gradually increased their emotional expression and showed clearer social responses. There are real cases: 10-year-old Oh and 12-year-old Lee, who were unresponsive during speech therapy, actively selected instruments and played along with the rhythm, while 18-year-old Kim, who had difficulty showing emotions, began to express feelings through facial expressions and actions during group playing.

Suga approached the children's world with his unique language of music and gained the belief that 'beyond simple sharing, meaningful change can be made.' That conviction led to the establishment of the 'Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center.' In the future, the center plans to enhance the MIND program and establish a long-term model based on music projects for the social independence of children with autism. Simultaneously, it will train experts in various fields to strengthen the professionalism and sustainability of the program.

Suga has transformed from an artist who moved the world with music to a 'change agent' who heals hearts through music. His donation of 5 billion won transcends a simple amount, representing 'true positive influence' created by the philosophy and practice of an artist.

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