On the evening of the 3rd, KBS2TV's 'Celebrity Soldier's Secret' aired the poignant narrative of Koo Jun-yeop and the late Xu Xi-yuan, who completed their miracle reunion with a first love but ultimately parted ways due to an untimely death.
During the broadcast, Jang Do-yeon reminisced about the heyday of Clon, which revolutionized the music scene in 1996. She shared the backstory of Koo Jun-yeop's decision to shave his head due to hereditary hair loss, which ironically became his iconic style. Clon gained explosive popularity in Taiwan, avoiding competition in the Japanese music industry, where Koo Jun-yeop had a fateful first meeting with Xu Xi-yuan, then a Taiwanese variety show host. Xu Xi-yuan expressed her interest in Koo Jun-yeop on the show, sparking a romance that was cut short after a year due to agency opposition.
After a long separation, the couple married in 2022, but their happiness was short-lived when Xu Xi-yuan passed away during a trip to Japan in February last year. Lee Nak-jun analyzed the medical reasons behind Xu Xi-yuan's death, which was caused by acute pneumonia that rapidly worsened into sepsis.
Lee Nak-jun stated, "It's very rare for a simple fever in a young person to lead to sudden death," and explained that Xu Xi-yuan's congenital heart condition, mitral valve prolapse, and preeclampsia during childbirth likely weakened her immune system, setting the stage for the tragedy. Hyo-jung mentioned reports of her condition worsening from mild cold symptoms within days, expressing sorrow over Xu Xi-yuan's untimely death.
Currently, Koo Jun-yeop remains near Taiwan, where his wife rests, continuing to express his deep affection by creating a sculpture in her memory.
Lee Chan-won shed tears over their tragic love story, drawing viewers into the emotional narrative, while Kim Ina expressed deep empathy, noting that their relationship was more dramatic than any drama. The unexpected farewell after a miraculous reunion left the studio guests and many others deeply moved.
Im Chae-ryeong, Ten Asia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr