South Korean actress Ha Ji-won and five-member boy band WINNER will help promote the spread of hallyu, or the Korean Wave, in China as ambassadors of Korean products and contents this year, the trade ministry said Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Ha and the K-pop idol group have been named ambassadors of the Shenyang-Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo 2016 (KBEE 2016) to be held in Shenyang from May 12-14.

Some 100 Korean companies plan to attend the 7th annual exhibition with an aim to sell their products and contents to about

400 participating Chinese companies with the help of the growing popularity of Korean TV shows and music in the neighboring country, the ministry said. 

The Korean companies aim to sign as many deals as possible to sell their cosmetics, fashion items, medical, childcare, foods and fisheries products in the exhibition, it said.

Ha rose to stardom by starring in the movie "Haeundae" in 2009 and the TV drama "Secret Garden" in 2010. WINNER enjoys growing popularity in 11 countries with its album titled "EXIT:E" released in February. (Yonhap)