Yeonsei Severance Hospital has opened the Min Yoongi Treatment Center.
On the 30th, the opening ceremony of the Min Yoongi Treatment Center was held on the first floor of the Jejung Hall at Yeonsei Severance Hospital.
Attending the ceremony were President Yoon Dong-seop of Yonsei University, Director Geum Ki-chang of Yonsei Medical Center, Director Lee Kang-young of Yeonsei Severance Hospital, Director Kang Hoon-cheol of Severance Children's Hospital, and Professor Cheon Geun-ah, who is in charge of the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, along with external guests such as Kim Yong-jik, President of the Korean Autism Love Association.
The Min Yoongi Treatment Center was established based on a donation of 5 billion won made by BTS member Suga (real name Min Yoongi) to Severance Children's Hospital last June. The center is equipped with treatment rooms for language and behavioral therapy, as well as a music-sociality group therapy room with sound and soundproofing facilities. The cozy waiting area for guardians features works by artist Lee Gyu-jae, known for his wooden art, who has autism spectrum disorder.
Yeonsei Severance Hospital plans to expand and relocate the facility in line with the specialization of the center's operational programs, sustainable long-term development, and increasing demand.
Since the second half of last year until the first half of this year, Suga has been meeting with children with autism spectrum disorder alongside Professor Cheon Geun-ah, providing music services including guitar playing. Based on this, they jointly developed the sociality group program 'MIND,' which integrates music into therapy, establishing the world's first art-converged treatment and self-reliance system at a university hospital.
The MIND program, being a music-based therapy that uses non-verbal means, is effective for children with low cognitive abilities or those who have difficulty communicating due to lack of verbal response. It encourages children to express their preferences by allowing them to choose their desired instruments and supports social activity experiences, such as waiting for their turn during group performances.
In addition, integrated treatment by specialists will continue. A professional team consisting of child psychiatrists, music therapists, speech therapists, behavioral therapists, and clinical psychologists will provide tailored treatment for children through case-based multi-faceted discussions.
The effectiveness of this music-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder has been reported in studies conducted in Norway and other countries, indicating that it helps enhance self-expression and develop social interaction skills.
In fact, when Suga volunteered, children A and B, who did not show active responses during language therapy, actively engaged by choosing instruments and playing in rhythm.
Additionally, child C, who played the saxophone and had little verbal or emotional expression, began to show emotions through facial expressions during collaborative processes with other children and responded to the therapist's attention and praise.
An event is scheduled for the end of the year for children participating in the MIND program. First, in November, the 'Camp on the Spectrum' will take place, where about 10 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder will participate in a two-day, one-night schedule that includes band performance practice, parent education, and family recreation, spending time enhancing their social skills with medical staff and volunteers. Following that, in December, a performance is being prepared at the Yonsei University auditorium where children can showcase their practiced performance skills to their families and the public.
Band practice and stage performances signify that the Min Yoongi Treatment Center provides a foundation for the independence and social growth of children with autism spectrum disorder beyond treatment.
Professor Cheon Geun-ah, director of the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, stated that the autism spectrum disorder treatment program that integrates music with language, behavior, and social training is being introduced for the first time in the world, and aims to continuously develop the program by incorporating various artistic activities such as art and physical education into therapy, as well as training specialists such as speech therapists and behavioral therapists specialized in the program.
Based on this, partnerships with overseas autism spectrum disorder treatment institutions will be established to promote the globalization of the program, and clinical research and academic presentations, including the publication of program manuals, will also be pursued.
Professor Cheon stated, “At the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, we not only enhance therapeutic effects by teaching children music but also educate them on social skills,” and added, “I expect that public awareness of children with autism spectrum disorder, who strive for independence in society, will greatly improve.”
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
