Severance Hospital has officially opened the Min Yoon Gi Treatment Center. The new treatment facility was established with a ₩5 billion donation made by SUGA of BTS in June last year.
On the 30th(KST), Severance Hospital announced the opening of the Min Yoon Gi Treatment Center, located on the first floor of the Jejungwon Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Professor Chun Geun Ah, a child psychiatrist, has been appointed as the center’s director.
The center features dedicated rooms for language and behavioral therapy. It also includes music and social group therapy spaces, fully equipped with soundproofing and acoustic systems. In the waiting area for caregivers, artworks by autistic artist Lee Gyu Jae are on display.
In November of last year, SUGA personally approached Professor Chun to offer his musical talent for volunteer work. Over the following months, he participated in therapy sessions by playing guitar for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Based on this experience, SUGA and Professor Chun co-developed a new therapy program called MIND (Music·Interaction·Network·Diversity). MIND integrates music into therapy, helping children on the autism spectrum develop social skills.
The program has proven effective even for children with low cognitive abilities or limited verbal communication. Children are encouraged to express preferences by selecting their own instruments, and they learn turn-taking through ensemble playing.
Additionally, the center offers integrated care from a multidisciplinary team, including child psychiatrists, music therapists, speech-language pathologists, behavioral therapists, and clinical psychologists. Together, they provide personalized and comprehensive support.
Severance Hospital shared, “Children A and B showed little engagement during standard speech therapy sessions. However, during volunteer sessions with SUGA, they actively selected instruments and kept rhythm, showing clear interest and participation.”
Professor Chun stated, “At the Min Yoon Gi Treatment Center, we use music not only to teach but also to enhance therapeutic outcomes and social skills. Seeing these children work toward independence gives us hope for shifting public perceptions of developmental disabilities.”
Later this year, an event for children participating in MIND is planned. Around 10 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder will join a two-day program in November. In December, they will hold a concert at the Yonsei University Grand Auditorium.
SHARE
