On 23 June 2025, BTS’s SUGA (Min Yoongi) made headlines once again—not for a chart-topping hit, but for a deeply meaningful act of giving via Min Yoongi Treatment Center. Partnering with Seoul’s prestigious Severance Hospital, he donated a staggering ₩5 billion (about $3.6 million USD) to create a specialised treatment centre for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). SUGA makes history with the largest single donation ever made by an idol!
What Is the Min Yoongi Treatment Centre?
Set to open in September 2025, the Min Yoongi Treatment Center will focus on supporting the mental health, communication, and social skills of youth diagnosed with ASD. It will provide long-term therapy—not just short-term solutions—and combine language, psychological, and behavioural therapy with active clinical research.
This isn’t just a name on a building. Yoongi was personally involved in shaping the centre’s vision.
How Did This Come to Be?
In November 2024, SUGA met Dr. Chun Geun-Ah, a leading child psychiatrist at Severance. Their conversations revealed a clear gap: while ASD symptoms require years of personalised care, Korea still lacks treatment centres that offer ongoing, specialised support throughout a child’s developmental journey.
Moved by this, Yoongi pledged the largest artist donation in Severance Medical Center’s history. This wasn’t a one-time cheque—it was a commitment to a long-term vision.
A Healing Bridge Between Music and Medicine: The MIND Programme
Together, SUGA and Dr. Chun began designing something special: a music-based social skills programme called MIND.
MIND stands for:
- Music: Enhancing interaction through sensory and emotional experiences
- Interaction: Building relationships through shared musical activities
- Network: Learning to engage with others naturally in group settings
- Diversity: Respecting individual differences and growing in community
For eight months, Yoongi dedicated his weekends to spending time with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. His involvement went far beyond observation — he played an active role in shaping the MIND programme (Music Interactive Network Diversity), a music-based initiative designed to support emotional expression and social development.
Yoongi personally played guitar and piano during sessions, gently guiding the children to follow his rhythm and harmonies. Through music, he helped them explore their emotions, communicate in new ways, and even learn to play instruments themselves — something that requires not only skill but also deep patience and care.
Two children, Oh-gun (10) and Lee-gun (12), had shown limited engagement with traditional speech therapy. But with Yoongi’s support, they were able to choose their instruments and learn to play them, showing signs of connection and progress. Another child, Kim (18), who played the saxophone and had minimal verbal or emotional interaction, became noticeably expressive during group music sessions. His facial responses, especially when receiving praise or encouragement from Yoongi and the therapists, spoke louder than words ever could.
Yoongi’s long-standing commitment to mental health is no secret — it’s woven into his lyrics and seen in his actions. He’s even taken the time to study psychology in his free hours to better understand and support others. The upcoming Min Yoongi Treatment Centre will carry this vision forward, focusing on helping children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder develop emotional expression and social independence through long-term, compassionate care.
What’s Next?
When construction wraps up this September, the centre will expand its existing treatment options like ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) and speech therapy. The MIND programme will also launch fully, using music as a tool for social development.
Plans include:
- Publishing clinical research and programme manuals
- Offering training for new specialists in music-based therapy
- Developing sustainable music therapy models for other communities
Why This Matters
Dr. Chun expressed deep appreciation for SUGA’s sincerity:
“This isn’t just financial support. His months of active volunteering and thoughtful involvement showed remarkable commitment. His efforts will help change public perception around autism and support these children in becoming independent, valued members of society.”
SUGA shared his own feelings too:
“Music can be a powerful way to express feelings and connect with the world. I’m deeply thankful for the chance to be involved and will continue to support these children as they find their place in our society.”
Here is the Donation link for Min Yoongi Therapy Center:
https://secure.donus.org/severance/pay/step1_direct?dontype=DHFD18&theme=DHFD18
A Different Kind of Legacy
For Yoongi, this is more than philanthropy—it’s personal. From his past work supporting youth mental health to this new chapter in autism care, he continues to show us that his artistry extends far beyond music. He’s building something that will last long after the lights fade and the tour ends.
And maybe that’s what love looks like in action—quiet, steady, and full of rhythm.
A Love That Doesn’t Need a Mic
As ARMYs, we’ve always known Yoongi to be someone who speaks through music—quiet, introspective, but deeply honest.
His song The Last sees Yoongi confront mental illness in his most brutally honest way yet. He opens up about his experiences of depression, anxiety, OCD and suicidal thoughts, not to shock, but to show solidarity. It is raw and unfiltered, and represents a historic moment of openness in K-pop.
“Depression, OCD — they keep coming back from time to time. Hell no, perhaps that might be my true self.”
“I’m standing at the edge of a cliff. I’m afraid, but I keep going forward.”
This project feels like an extension of that heart. It’s one thing to donate. It’s another thing to show up, week after week, and hold space for children as they find their voice in the world.
It reminds us of what he once said in So Far Away:
“Don’t be afraid, don’t worry yourself / The end and the beginning, beginning and the end are connected.”
And from his Agust D mixtape:
“Love myself, love my fans, love my music.”
This isn’t just an act of service—it’s a legacy. A centre with his name, filled with music, healing, and new beginnings. Yoongi has always told us to keep going, even when it’s hard. Now he’s ensuring that these kids receive the same message.
Perhaps this is what it means to utilise your platform truly. Not just for sound, but for silence. For care. For change.