TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After the death of Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) on Feb. 2 in Japan, the popular actress’ remains were returned to Taiwan on Wednesday by her husband, Korean musician Koo Jun-yup.
On Thursday, Koo announced that he vows to “protect everything (Hsu) loved” and relinquish rights to the inheritance of Hsu’s estate, valued at NT$650 million (US$26.7 million), per Asia One.
In a statement on Instagram, Koo said that he would transfer all assets to his mother-in-law, Huang Chun-mei (黄春梅). This would ensure that Hsu’s two children from a previous marriage will be properly protected and provided for.
The South Korean musician first met Hsu in the late 1990s, when the two dated briefly before separating in 1999. After Barbie Hsu divorced her previous husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei (汪少菲), in 2021, Hsu and Koo reconnected after more than 20 years and were married in 2022.
In his statement on social media, Koo said that nothing could ever replace the time he spent with Hsu, calling it a “precious and valuable gift.” He expressed his deep sadness and asked for everyone to respect her memory and leave her family in peace.
Koo was on vacation with Hsu in Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday when she developed flu symptoms on Jan. 29. Hsu sought medical help but passed away at a hospital in Tokyo due to complications related to pneumonia.
Her family chose to have her cremated in Japan. Koo transported her remains, carried in a pink urn, back to Taiwan aboard a chartered flight to Taipei’s Songshan Airport.
The family announced that there would be no public memorial for Barbie Hsu because she valued her privacy. Her remains will be enshrined at a memorial park in New Taipei’s Sanzhi District, reported South Korea’s JoongAng Daily.
