BTS’s Suga and Severance Hospital are partnering to establish a specialized treatment center to support the treatment and social independence of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). On the 23rd, the hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the “Min Yoon-gi Center” on the first floor of the Jejung Building to support the mental health of children and adolescents with ASD through various programs, including language, psychological, and behavioral therapy integrated with clinical research.
Since late last year until early this year, Professor Cheon and Suga discussed the construction of the center and music-based social skills training for children with ASD. They developed the “MIND” program, a social group program integrating musical content into existing social skills training programs. MIND stands for Music, Interaction, Network, and Diversity, highlighting the program’s goals to enhance interaction and sensory experiences through music, provide opportunities for forming social relationships, emphasize community processes, and teach respect for individual diversity.
From March to June, Suga actively participated in program development, spending weekends interacting with children with ASD. He played instruments like the guitar to encourage the children to match rhythms and harmonies, extending their emotional expressions through music. The program saw noticeable improvements in the children’s emotional and language expressions and social skills during interactions and collaborative activities.
Notably, children who previously showed little response during language therapy, like 10-year-old Oh and 12-year-old Lee, selected instruments themselves and displayed talent in following rhythmic patterns. The collaborative ensemble process also revealed diverse emotional expressions. An 18-year-old participant, Kim, who rarely expressed emotions or language, showed feelings through facial expressions during collaboration with others and responded to attention and praise from therapists. The program demonstrated its effectiveness in helping children with ASD form social relationships despite their limited language abilities.
The Min Yoon-gi Center aims to further develop the MIND program and establish a self-sustaining music project model. To ensure the program’s continuity and expertise, it plans to systematize training professionals in various therapy fields. After completing construction in September, the center will expand regular program sessions, offering ASD and developmental disability individuals social skills training and various therapy sessions utilizing music. The center will also expand existing therapies like ABA and language therapy and pursue clinical research, academic paper publications, and program manual development to objectively verify the MIND program’s effectiveness.
Professor Cheon expressed gratitude for Suga’s genuine talent donation and volunteer work, impressed by his consistent sincerity and intelligence. He stated that helping children with ASD grow into independent and healthy members of society through music and overcoming the stigma and awareness of ASD are the ultimate goals of the center and the MIND program.
Suga reflected on his experience over the past seven months, stating that preparing and volunteering for the program with Professor Cheon made him realize the significant role music plays as a medium for expression and communication. He expressed gratitude and happiness for participating in the treatment process of children with ASD and pledged ongoing support to help more children become integral members of society.