South Korean rapper Suga of the globally renowned K-Pop boy group BTS is adding another remarkable achievement to his career, this time beyond the stage, having co-authored the MIND (Music, Interaction, Network and Diversity) Program.
According to The Korea Herald, the MIND Program is a groundbreaking manual that introduces a music-based approach to nurturing social skills among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The manual was officially published on March 17.
READ: Suga of BTS donates ₱204M to build autism center in Seoul hospital
Unlike conventional social training methods that rely heavily on language comprehension and cognitive skills, the MIND Program encourages participants to interact and communicate through music. Children are guided in selecting instruments, performing in groups, and engaging in collaborative activities that gradually enhance emotional awareness and communication. The program spans 12 structured sessions, evolving from simple interactions to more complex collaborative music-making exercises.
Suga began collaborating with pediatric psychiatrist and professor Cheon Keun-ah in November 2024, contributing ideas during the program’s initial planning and volunteering as an instructor during its pilot phase.
"While I was preparing the program with Prof. Cheon Keun-ah and doing volunteer work, I learned how music can become a pathway for communication and self-expression," Suga said in a press release.
"It has been such a pleasure and privilege to join the journey of supporting autistic children," he continued.
Following its publication, Prof. Cheon emphasized that Suga’s involvement was instrumental in bringing the MIND Program to life and expressed hope that the manual will be adopted by clinicians and specialists worldwide.
Back in June 2025, he made headlines with a 5 billion won (₱204 million at that time) donation that helped establish the Min Yoongi Treatment Center at Severance Hospital, where the MIND Program is now implemented. His contribution set a record as the largest celebrity donation to the Yonsei Medical Foundation, which runs the general hospital, inspiring a wave of support from his fans.
The center, led by Prof. Cheon, features state-of-the-art therapy rooms, including soundproofed spaces for music sessions and group social skills activities.
READ: BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback concert to run for around 1 hour over safety concerns
Meanwhile, Suga is set to return on stage together with BTS for their free comeback concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21. This free concert comes just a day after the release of their newest album, Arirang, which drops on March 20.
THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG will stream globally on Netflix on March 21 at 8 p.m. KST or 7 p.m. Philippine time.