BTS's Suga launches autism therapy centre with $3.8 million donation and a music-driven mission for children

BTS’s Suga has officially returned from military service, and while it might be a little while before we see him live again, the latest updates have already brought fans a lot of joy.

In a deeply personal move, according to several Korean media outlets, he has united with Severance Hospital to launch the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, which is a a dedicated space for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Backing the initiative with a generous ₩5 billion (approx. USD $3.8 million) donation, Suga has committed to sustaining the center’s long-term therapy programs over the next 10 years.

At the heart of the center is the MIND Program, short for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity—a music therapy initiative that Suga personally co-developed with Professor Cheon Geun-ah, Korea’s leading expert in child psychiatry. The program blends music-making, singing, and lyric-writing to help children with ASD express emotions and build social skills.

What makes this even more special: Suga wasn’t just involved in theory. For the past seven months, he volunteered his weekends to actively participate—playing the guitar, teaching instruments, and guiding musical interactions with the children himself. Early results are already promising, with notable improvements in verbal expression, emotional communication, and cooperation, even among children who hadn’t responded to traditional therapies.

Reflecting on the experience, Suga shared: “Through preparing the program and volunteering with Professor Cheon over the past seven months, I deeply felt that music can be a precious channel for expressing one’s heart and communicating with the world. Being able to participate in the treatment process for children with ASD was a great source of gratification and happiness for me. I will continue to do my part so that more children can be welcomed as full members of our society.”