BTS member Suga's generous donation of $5 million has come to fruition with the opening of the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center at Severance Hospital.
On the 30th, Severance Hospital unveiled the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center on the first floor of the Jejung Building. This center was established with the funds donated by BTS's Suga (real name Min Yoon-gi) to the Severance Children's Hospital in June. The center is equipped with safety features and includes therapy rooms for language and behavior therapy, as well as a music-social group therapy room with sound and noise-proof facilities. Severance Hospital plans to expand and relocate the facility in the future to meet the increasing demand and ensure the specialization and sustainable long-term development of the center's programs.
Since the latter half of last year, Suga has been volunteering with Professor Cheon Geun-ah, meeting children with autism spectrum disorder and engaging in music volunteer work, including guitar performances. Based on this experience, Suga and Professor Cheon co-developed the 'MIND' program, a social group program that integrates music into therapy, establishing the world's first art-converged treatment and independence system at a university hospital.
Research conducted in countries like Norway has shown that music-based autism spectrum disorder treatment can enhance self-expression and social interaction skills. During Suga's volunteer work, children who were previously unresponsive to language therapy, such as individuals referred to as A and B, showed active interest by choosing instruments and playing in rhythm. An event for children participating in the MIND program is scheduled for the end of the year.
Professor Cheon Geun-ah, director of the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center, aims to continuously develop the autism spectrum disorder treatment program by integrating music, language, behavior, and social training. The program will also incorporate various art activities such as art and physical education. The center plans to train specialized language and behavior therapists and establish partnerships with international autism spectrum disorder treatment institutions to globalize the program. This includes publishing program manuals and conducting clinical research and academic presentations.
Professor Cheon stated, "At the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center, we not only enhance treatment effects by teaching music to children but also educate them on social skills. We expect that public awareness of autism spectrum disorder will significantly improve as people see these children striving for independence in society."
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr