IMI, which operates the game item trading platform Itemmania, sponsored a mental health culture and arts program run by Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Maumsarang Hospital and awarded 24 winning works.

IMI said on Sept. 4 it attended the awards ceremony for the "Saibbit: Tuning the Mind, Second Story" contest held on Sept. 3 at the hospital's culture centre as a sponsoring organisation.

The programme supports people with mental illness in expressing their emotions and experiences through artistic activities and sharing completed works with the local community. It was held for the second time following last year, and IMI supported its operation and awards as part of its social contribution programme, "Possibility On."

This year, 78 members from mental health-related organisations in the Jeonbuk region took part and submitted 83 works. Participants captured daily life, memories and emotions in watercolours and acrylic paintings under themes including "A Day Inside a Book," "My Story," "My One-Day Trip" and "Moments That Make Me Smile."

After judging, a total of 24 people were selected as winners: 1 grand prize, 2 top excellence awards, 4 excellence awards, 2 runner-up excellence awards, 8 encouragement awards and 7 special awards. The ceremony also included remarks from participating organisations, presentation of awards and sharing of creative experiences.

Entries, including winning works, will be exhibited from Oct. 1 to 15 at the gallery on the first floor of Deokjin district office in Jeonju. They will then be shown to the public at Yeonji Art Hall in Jeongeup from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6. At year-end, a collection featuring submitted works will be produced and delivered to participants.

Song Hye-yeon (송혜연), deputy manager in charge of social contribution at IMI, said she hopes the project will be a meaningful experience in participants' recovery process and a place to share comfort and empathy through one another's works and stories. She said IMI will continue social contribution activities linked to the local community.