BTS’ Suga (L) poses with Keum Ki-chang, chief of the Yonsei University Health System, in this undated photo provided by the Severance Hospital in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 23 (Korea Bizwire) — As BTS star Suga completes his military service, his legacy is already taking new shape — not on stage, but in a quiet wing of a hospital in Seoul.
This September, Severance Hospital will open the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to children with autism spectrum disorder. The project is made possible by Suga’s personal donation of 5 billion won (approximately US$3.62 million), one of the most significant philanthropic gestures by a K-pop artist in recent memory.
While Suga is globally known as a rapper, songwriter, and producer with BTS, his work offstage has increasingly centered on mental health advocacy — a cause that has defined his identity as much as his music. “Even while performing with BTS,” Severance Hospital noted, “he quietly supported charities and showed consistent interest in young people struggling with depression and behavioral issues.”
The new treatment center — named after his real name, Min Yoon-gi — will provide personalized care, therapy, and support programs for children with autism. Services will include language, psychological, and behavioral therapy, with a strong emphasis on programs that blend clinical treatment with research.
BTS member Suga during a concert. (Image courtesy of BigHit Music )
But perhaps the most unique feature of the center is MIND, short for Music, Interaction, Network, Diversity — a program that Suga co-developed with Cheon Keun-ah, a leading child psychiatry expert at Severance. MIND uses music as a therapeutic bridge to help children on the spectrum develop communication and emotional skills.
Over several weekends from March to June, Suga quietly volunteered in person, sitting with children, playing guitar, guiding them through rhythm exercises, and helping them write and perform their own lyrics. “I realized that music can be a powerful way to express feelings and communicate with the world,” he said. “It made me happy to be part of the treatment process for children with autism.”
According to Severance, the results were tangible: children began expressing themselves more freely and showing greater ease in social interactions. When the Min Yoon-gi Center opens, it will expand MIND and introduce new music-based therapy options, potentially setting a precedent in the field of pediatric mental health.
Dr. Cheon, who worked closely with Suga, praised his humility and commitment. “He wasn’t just a donor — he was part of the process. Our goal now is to help these children grow into independent, respected members of society through the power of music.”
Suga’s military service as a social worker officially ended this Saturday, but his public service appears far from over. With the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center, he’s offering something more enduring than a chart-topping hit — a space for healing, connection, and the belief that music can change lives, even off the stage.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
