BTS’s SUGA Donates $3.6 Million to Establish Autism Treatment Centre in His Name

BTS’s SUGA donates $3.6 million to establish an autism centre that brings together music, science, and hope.

Min Yoongi, globally known as SUGA from BTS, has donated $3.6 million to establish the ‘Min Yoongi Treatment Centre’, a specialist autism facility set to open in September.

On 23 June, Severance Hospital in South Korea held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new centre, which will provide psychological, speech, and behavioural therapies, alongside integrated clinical research programmes and specialised care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This generous act is not an isolated one. Throughout his career, SUGA has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to youth mental health, particularly in addressing depression and emotional integration. In November 2023, he began collaborating with child psychiatrist Dr Chun Geun-ah to develop a long-term solution—leading to the idea of a centre that combines personalised treatment, music-based intervention, and academic support.

One of the most promising initiatives is MIND, a programme developed by SUGA himself that uses music as a therapeutic tool. The acronym stands for Music, Interaction, Network, Diversity. Through songwriting, singing, and instrument-based games, children are encouraged to express themselves, interact meaningfully, and form real social connections.

Between March and June this year, SUGA personally participated in weekend sessions, teaching music to the children and promoting emotional collaboration. The results have been remarkable: children who previously remained non-verbal began to communicate and engage with newfound confidence.

Once construction is completed in September, the Min Yoongi Treatment Centre will expand the MIND programme and introduce additional therapies such as ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) and speech and language therapy. The centre will also support scientific research and clinical trials to assess its long-term therapeutic impact.

Dr Chun praised the artist’s dedication: “Beyond the financial support, what’s truly moving is his unwavering involvement. SUGA is changing the way society perceives autism.”

For his part, SUGA stated: “Music has the power to connect and heal. Being involved in this journey has been a blessing. I will continue to support every effort that helps children feel part of our community.”