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Donation from BTS's Suga to center for autistic children sparks flood of fan contributions

Published: 24 Jun. 2025, 13:52

Suga of BTS, fourth from left, poses for photos with medical staff and researchers at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on June 23. [YONHAP]

A groundswell of donations came flooding in from BTS fans eager to support a mental health support center for children with autism after band member Suga donated 5 billion won ($3.6 million) to the facility.

General public donations to the Min Yoon-gi Center had surpassed 200 million won as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Severance Hospital said.

The milestone came just one day after the hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday and revealed Suga’s donation.

Scheduled for completion in September, the Min Yoon-gi Center will offer language, behavioral and psychological therapies for children and adolescents, in addition to operating programs that combine clinical treatment and academic research.

Suga worked closely with Chun Geun-a, a leading professor of child psychiatry at Severance Hospital, over seven months to develop a music-integrated therapy program.

He also met with children diagnosed with autism.

Severance’s public relations office received a surge of inquiries from ARMY and other members of the public interested in contributing, after Suga’s donation came to light.

Yonsei University Health System added a dedicated donation option for the Min Yoon-gi Center on its official website in response.

Donations from overseas are expected to come in once foreign remittance channels open.

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY KIM JI-HYE [[email protected]]