BTS Suga Donates 5 Billion Won... Severance Opens 'Min Yoongi Treatment Center'

Music-Based Language, Behavioral, and Social Skills Training
Supporting Independence for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The "Min Yoongi Treatment Center" at Severance Hospital, established with a donation of 5 billion won from Suga (real name Min Yoongi) of the group BTS, has officially opened.

Severance Hospital 'Min Yoongi Treatment Center' Language, Social Skills, and Music Therapy Room. Severance Hospital

Severance Hospital announced that it held an opening ceremony on the first floor of the Jejung Building in Sinchon, Seoul, on September 30, attended by Yonsei University President Yoon Dongseop, Yonsei Medical Center Director Geum Gichang, and Kim Yongjik, President of the Korea Autism Love Association, among others. Professor Chun Geuna of pediatric psychiatry will serve as the center's director.

Previously, in June, Suga generously donated 5 billion won to build a treatment center to support the treatment and social independence of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. This was the largest celebrity donation ever received by Yonsei Medical Center.

The Min Yoongi Treatment Center, established with this donation, features therapy rooms for language and behavioral therapy, as well as group therapy rooms for music and social skills, fully equipped with sound and soundproofing facilities. In the guardian waiting area, works by Lee Gyuje, an artist with autism spectrum disorder, will also be exhibited.

Severance Hospital held an opening ceremony on the 30th for the 'Min Yoongi Treatment Center' on the first floor of Jejung Building. From the left: Lee Jeonghan, Deputy Director of Min Yoongi Treatment Center; Ahn Hyungjun, Dean of the Dental Hospital; Kim Yongjik, President of the Korea Autism Love Association; Chun Geuna, Director of Min Yoongi Treatment Center; Geum Gichang, Director of Yonsei Medical Center; Lee Kangyoung, Director of Severance Hospital; Kang Hoonchul, Director of Severance Children's Hospital; Ahn Seokgyun, Chair Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at Yonsei University College of Medicine. Severance Hospital

Here, the social group program "MIND (Music, Interaction, Network, Diversity)," developed by Suga and Professor Chun Geuna by incorporating music into therapy, will be conducted. From the second half of last year through the first half of this year, Suga has been volunteering in music therapy for children with autism together with Professor Chun.

The center will also provide customized, integrated treatment from a specialized team consisting of child psychiatrists, as well as music, language, and behavioral therapists and clinical psychologists. In November, a camp event will be held for children and adolescents participating in the MIND program, and in December, a performance by the participants is scheduled at the Yonsei University Grand Auditorium.

Going forward, the center plans to further develop its programs by incorporating not only music but also various artistic activities such as art and physical education, to train related professionals, and to pursue clinical research and academic presentations.

Professor Chun stated, "At the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, we not only teach music to children to enhance the therapeutic effect, but also educate them in social skills," adding, "We expect that as the public sees children with autism spectrum disorder striving for independence in society, awareness of disabilities will greatly improve."

Severance Hospital plans to expand and relocate the center's facilities in the future to accommodate the specialization of its programs, sustainable long-term development, and increasing demand.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.