'BTS’s SUGA' Donates 5 Billion Won, Sparking Ripple Effect… Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center Marks First Anniversary With Camp

Building connections through music and sports… A year of steps toward social independence

The Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center at Severance Hospital, established with a donation from SUGA (real name Min Yoon-gi) of the group BTS, marked its first anniversary by creating a meaningful place of healing for children receiving care and their families. Severance Hospital said on the 10th that it had successfully wrapped up “Camp on the Spectrum,” a two-day, overnight event for children and teens on the autism spectrum and their families.

In June last year, SUGA donated 5 billion won to Severance Hospital to establish a specialized treatment environment for children and teens with autism spectrum disorder and help them achieve full social independence. With the donation, Severance opened the specialized Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center on Sept. 30 last year and has continued to provide structured, multidisciplinary treatment support.

The center currently offers an integrated rehabilitation protocol that includes one-on-one personalized music therapy, the music-based “Mind Program,” which develops social skills; “Mind Play,” a special physical education program incorporating basketball; and specialized behavioral therapy.

A total of 104 people took part in “Camp on the Spectrum,” including children receiving care through Severance Children’s Hospital’s child psychiatry treatment program, their families, medical staff and volunteers. Chef French Papa, who appeared on the popular Netflix original unscripted series “Culinary Class Wars 2,” drew particular attention as a special guest speaker. Sharing candid stories from daily life with his child on the autism spectrum and about his family’s growth, French Papa offered heartfelt understanding and comfort to the families gathered at the event.

Cheon Geun-ah, director of Severance Children’s Hospital and head of the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center, said, “We will continue working to help children connect naturally with society through a variety of specialized activities, including music and sports,” adding, “We will keep broadening the range of experiences that allow children receiving care to take part in society and become independent on their own.”