Latest news with #SeveranceHospital
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Fresh from military discharge, BTS' Suga funds US$3.62m autism clinic with music-based treatment in Seoul
SEOUL, June 23 — BTS member Suga has donated five billion won (US$3.62 million) to establish a treatment centre dedicated to children with autism spectrum disorder, according to The Korea Herald. The report said the artiste partnered with Severance Hospital in Seoul to build the facility, which held a groundbreaking ceremony today. According to the report, the clinic is expected to open in September, offering language, psychological, and behavioural therapies, as well as care for young patients with autism. Additionally, the centre will feature programs combining musical elements with social skills training, a curriculum jointly developed by Suga and a pediatric psychiatry professor over the past seven months. Suga, who completed his mandatory military service as a social agent and was discharged last Saturday, greeted fans via a fandom app and issued an apology for past incidents, including a case of drinking and driving involving an e-scooter last year. The Korea Herald highlighted that Suga's donation underscores his commitment to social causes and his belief in the transformative power of music for therapeutic development.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Suga of BTS donates US$3.6 million for autism treatment center in Seoul
SEOUL, June 23 — BTS member Suga has donated 5 billion won (US$3.62 million) to establish a treatment center dedicated to children with autism spectrum disorder, according to The Korea Herald. The report said the artist partnered with Severance Hospital in Seoul to build the facility, which held a groundbreaking ceremony today. According to the report, the clinic is expected to open in September, offering language, psychological, and behavioral therapies, as well as care for young patients with autism. Additionally, the center will feature programs combining musical elements with social skills training, a curriculum jointly developed by Suga and a pediatric psychiatry professor over the past seven months. Suga, who completed his mandatory military service as a social agent and was discharged on Saturday, greeted fans via a fandom app and issued an apology for past incidents, including a case of drinking and driving involving an e-scooter last year. The Korea Herald highlighted that Suga's donation underscores his commitment to social causes and his belief in the transformative power of music for therapeutic development.
Pink Villa
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
What is Min Yoongi Treatment Center? All we know about BTS' SUGA's impressive 5 billion KRW MIND program
BTS member SUGA has donated 5 billion KRW (approx. USD 3.62 million) to fund the establishment of a medical facility. It's dedicated to treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to a statement released by Severance Hospital on June 23, 2025, the donation will be used to build and operate a new center in Seoul. It'll provide individualized therapies for young patients. This donation marks the largest single financial contribution in the history of both Severance Children's Hospital and its affiliated Yonsei University Medical Center. Center set to open in September The upcoming Min Yoongi Treatment Center, named after SUGA 's legal name, is scheduled to open in September 2025. The center will provide various services for children diagnosed with ASD. They include language development, behavioral support, psychological assessments, and ongoing therapy. A core feature of the center will be the integration of music-based therapeutic activities into conventional treatment plans. It aims to enhance the patients' ability to express emotions and improve communication. 7-month collab with pediatric psychiatry specialist SUGA began working on this project in late 2024, after being introduced to Professor Cheon Geun Ah, a specialist in pediatric psychiatry at Severance Hospital. The two began discussions in November 2024. SUGA expressed interest in exploring how music could be utilized as a form of therapy for children on the autism spectrum. During their collaboration, Professor Cheon shared that customized treatment was difficult to implement within current systems. It's due to a lack of resources and tailored programs. Development of the MIND program As a result of these discussions, SUGA and Professor Cheon jointly created the MIND program. The acronym stands for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity. The program is designed to encourage emotional and social interaction through structured musical activities. It includes instrument play, singing, and creative writing. The goal of MIND is to support emotional development and interpersonal relationships in children with autism. Direct involvement in trial program From March to June 2025, SUGA reportedly participated in the development and testing of the MIND program. On weekends, he attended pilot sessions held at the hospital. He observed children's interactions and occasionally guided them through musical exercises. During these sessions, children were encouraged to wait their turn, express their feelings through sound, and collaborate with others in musical activities. According to feedback from medical staff, the presence of structured music sessions had a noticeable impact on the children. SUGA reflects on project SUGA briefly addressed his involvement during the hospital's internal announcement. He stated, 'I genuinely felt that music can be a valuable method for expressing one's feelings and communicating with the world,' as quoted by Koreaboo. He added, 'Being part of the treatment process for children with autism spectrum disorder has been a big blessing and source of happiness for me.' SUGA expressed his intention to remain involved in initiatives that assist children in becoming more integrated members of society.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BTS's Suga donates 5 BILLION to hospital supporting children with Autism; sets new record for largest donation by K-Pop idol
BTS member Suga has made history with a record-breaking donation to Severance Hospital in Seoul, funding the establishment of the Min Yoongi Treatment Centre, dedicated to supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to reports on koreaboo, Suga shelled out KWR 5 billion (approximately USD 3.64 million), marking the largest single contribution ever made by a K-pop idol to a medical institution. The donation will help the new facility offer a range of tailored treatments, including speech, psychological, and behavioural therapy. It will also serve as a research hub, aiming to promote the social independence of individuals with ASD. The project is a collaboration between Suga and Professor Cheon Geun Ah from the hospital's Pediatric Psychiatry Department, with whom he has been working since November 2024. In a heartfelt statement reported by koreaboo, Suga shared his motivation behind the donation, 'During the past seven months of preparing this program and volunteering with Professor Cheon, I genuinely felt that music can be a valuable method for expressing one's feelings and communicating with the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Undo Being part of the treatment process for children with autism spectrum disorder has been a big blessing and source of happiness for me. I will continue to support efforts that will help more children integrate into society.' MIND Program: Music at the Heart of Therapy At the core of the new centre will be the MIND Program which is short for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity, which Suga helped co-develop. This innovative therapy model uses music to enhance communication, emotional expression, and social interaction in children with ASD. Participants will engage in singing, instrument-playing, and music-based writing exercises to build confidence and interpersonal skills while celebrating their individuality. Suga has been hands-on in the development of the program. Between March and June this year, he volunteered his weekends to work directly with children, even teaching them how to play instruments. The sessions, he said, revealed how powerfully music can unlock emotional and social growth. The treatment centre is scheduled for completion in September 2025, and will significantly expand the hospital's existing pediatric mental health services.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BTS' Suga to establish Min Yoongi Treatment Centre for autism care with Severance Hospital, pledges $3.6M for patients with ASD
It's not every day that BTS' Suga, born Min Yoongi, makes headlines—but when he does, it's often for a meaningful cause. The rapper and producer of the world-renowned K-pop group is currently trending across K-pop Twitter (now X) after news broke of his partnership with Severance Hospital to launch the Min Yoongi Treatment Centre. The initiative aims to support treatment and promote the social independence of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The announcement was made on June 23, just two days after Suga officially completed his mandatory military service as a public service worker. Severance Hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the centre and shared the news publicly, along with two photos of Suga—presumably taken at the event—posing with hospital officials. Notably, this was also his first public appearance since his DUI controversy. According to reports published by Korean media outlets on Naver, the centre is set to offer a wide range of services, including language, psychological, and behavioural therapies, with a focus on linking clinical care with research. Suga's collaboration with Severance Hospital and his offer to donate 5 billion KRW His collaboration with Severance Hospital began last November when he first met Professor Chun Geun Ah of the Department of Paediatrics, a leading expert in paediatric psychiatry. Through a series of conversations, Suga learnt about the urgent need for long-term, tailored care for individuals with ASD, something rarely addressed through current short-term interventions. He ultimately agreed with Professor Chun that a dedicated treatment centre was necessary and expressed his intention to donate 5 billion KRW (approximately 3,621,718 USD) for its establishment. This marks the largest donation ever made by an artist, not just to Severance Children's Hospital but to the entire Yonsei Medical Centre. The birth of the MIND programme In collaboration with Professor Chun, Suga helped develop the MIND programme, a social skills group therapy programme that integrates music into traditional treatment. The name 'MIND' stands for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity, reflecting its core goals: enhancing sensory experiences through music, encouraging social communication, building supportive networks, and fostering a society that embraces individual differences. Children in the programme engage in music-based activities like singing, writing lyrics, playing instruments, and expressing their feelings through creative exercises. From March to June this year, Suga actively participated in weekend sessions with children with ASD. He even played guitar alongside them, guiding them to explore rhythm, harmony, and emotion. At times, he personally taught them how to play instruments, becoming directly involved in shaping the program's structure and impact. Expanding treatment and research at the Min Yoongi Centre Once construction is completed in September, the Min Yoongi Treatment Centre will formally open its doors and expand its offerings. In addition to the MIND program, the centre will provide social skills training for individuals with developmental disabilities, along with established therapies like Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and speech therapy. Plans are also in place to promote clinical research, academic presentations, and the publication of programme manuals to objectively document and evaluate the effectiveness of MIND. Professor Chun praised Suga's involvement, saying, 'Beyond financial support, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the sincere talent donation and volunteer work that Suga has shown over the past several months. I have been deeply impressed by his consistent sincerity and intellectual attitude.' She added that the ultimate goal is to help children with autism spectrum disorder grow into confident, independent members of society—and to reduce the stigma surrounding ASD through increased awareness. Suga on the power of music and meaningful change Reflecting on his experience, Suga shared, 'Through the programme preparation and volunteer work with Professor Chun Geun-ah over the past seven months, I've deeply felt that music can be a valuable channel for expressing emotions and communicating with the world.' He continued, 'I am very grateful and happy that I was able to participate in the treatment process for children with autism spectrum disorder, and I will continue to work hard so that more children can become members of our society.' As fans celebrate his return from service, this initiative further cements Suga's role not only as a global artist but also as someone deeply committed to making a difference through music, compassion, and community. Suga's long-standing commitment to mental health and youth Even during his years promoting with BTS, Suga has consistently shown a deep interest in social cause, especially mental health, depression among youth, and behavioural issues. He has quietly supported various charitable efforts over the years and has often used his platform and music to advocate for awareness and understanding of mental health struggles. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
