YG Entertainment said Monday it will invest in the upcoming South Korean remake of the Chinese soap opera "Scarlet Heart," starring actor Lee Joon-gi and singer-songwriter IU.

The South Korean entertainment agency will join NBCUniversal and a local production company in financing and producing the show, which will air simultaneously in South Korea and China in the latter half of this year.

The South Korean version, titled "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo," is the first Asian soap opera to be financed by NBCUniversal.

YG said it is planning various business ventures related to "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo" in cosmetics, media commerce and character designs.

The series based on the Chinese novel titled "Bu Bu Jing Xin" will also feature actors Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyeon and Baekheon of the boy band EXO. (Yonhap)