BTS’ Suga has made a historic return after completing his mandatory military service. The singer has donated ₩5 billion KRW (around $3.64 million USD) to Severance Hospital in Seoul. This generous contribution marks the largest single donation ever made to Yonsei Medical Center and its affiliated children’s hospital.
On June 23, Yonsei Severance Hospital officially revealed that they, alongside BTS’ Suga, will be launching a specialised treatment centre aimed at supporting patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and helping them achieve greater social independence.
According to the report by Soompi, the ceremony marked the groundbreaking of the Min Yoon Gi Treatment Center, which will focus on providing comprehensive care for children and adolescents with ASD. The centre will offer a range of services, including language, psychological, and behavioural therapies, while also incorporating research-driven programs into clinical practice.
Suga’s involvement in this project stems from a meeting last November with Professor Chun Geun Ah, the Head of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. During their discussion, Suga expressed his commitment to supporting a long-term, decade-long initiative aimed at improving the lives of individuals with autism. As part of this, he pledged a generous ₩5 billion donation to Severance Hospital.
Earlier this year, Suga and Professor Chun Geun Ah collaborated on developing the MIND program, focusing on music-based social skills training. The MIND program aims to enhance social interaction and sensory experiences through four key components: Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity. It encourages the creation of social relationships and communication (Interaction), facilitates natural connections within communities (Network), and promotes respect for individuality and inclusion (Diversity).
Professor Chun expressed heartfelt gratitude toward Suga, not only for his generous financial contribution but also for his involvement in volunteering and sharing his talents over the past few months. He praised Suga’s sincerity, noting his thoughtful and consistent dedication to the cause. The ultimate mission of the Min Yoon Gi Treatment Center and the MIND program is to help children with autism spectrum disorder grow into independent individuals and contribute to society, while also breaking down misconceptions and raising awareness about autism.
Talking about his autism centre, Suga stated, “Through the past seven months of preparing programs and volunteering with Professor Chun Geun Ah, I have come to deeply realise that music can be a valuable channel for expressing one’s heart and communicating with the world. Being able to take part in the treatment process for children with autism spectrum disorder has been a great honour and happiness for me, and I will continue to do my best so that more children can become members of our society.”
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