BTS’ Suga establishes youth autism treatment center in Seoul

BTS star Suga has established an autism treatment center in Seoul – find out more below.

• READ MORE: Suga of BTS: “You have to find what makes you happy, what brings you joy”

Per a report from The Korea Herald, Suga – real name Min Yoon-gi – has donated 5billion won (approximately USD $3.6million or £2.69million) to the Severance Hospital in Seoul to build and operate a treatment center dedicated to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

A Korea Times report has revealed that the center will be called the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center and is currently scheduled to open its doors in September. The treatment center aims to provide psychiatric support and special programs to individuals on the autism spectrum in the hopes to develop skills for social independence.

Among these programs are therapies that include customised linguistic, psychological and behavioural treatments. Korea Times also reports that music will be integrated into social skills being instilled.

Suga said in a statement, per the news outlet: “Over the last seven months preparing for the program launch and engaging in volunteer work, I have come to understand that music can be a positive outlet for expressing emotions and communicating with the world. I am so happy and grateful that I was able to participate in the treatment process for children with ASD.”

Per a Severance Hospital statement, this isn’t the first time Suga has played a role in the treatment of youth: “Even while performing with BTS, he has donated to charities and shown a strong interest in helping young people with depression and behavioural issues. He has sought to find ways to use his music to make a positive difference.”

Suga’s donation and establishment of the treatment center comes just days after he was discharged from mandatory social work service – he was unable to serve in the South Korean military due to a prior shoulder injury. He was the last BTS member to be discharged from their respective mandatory service.

Since then, a HYBE source has claimed that BTS are scheduled to make their comeback in March 2026, though the group themselves, Big Hit and HYBE have yet to comment on the situation.

BTS went on hiatus in 2022 to fulfil their mandatory service and “explore some solo projects”. One of the most recent of which was Jin releasing his second solo project, titled ‘Echo’.

Following his discharge, V hinted at a BTS, saying in an interview with Apple Music 1: “I look forward to June when our members will have completed their service. We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future. I think it’s going to be a massive energy.”

Before then, he told Weverse Magazine: “When we’re all back together as a group, it’s going to have a huge impact, and everybody’s going to be watching. I’m excited to see what it’ll feel like when we perform together again. I want to come back in style and say, ‘This is us. This is BTS.’ I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you the other members feel the same way.”

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