Koo Jun-yeop Arrives in Taiwan with Late Wife Barbie Hsu's Ashes

Koo Jun-yeop, a South Korean singer, has arrived in Taiwan carrying the ashes of his late wife, Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (Xu Xiyuan), according to local media reports.

Taiwanese outlets, including Liberty Times, reported on the 6th that Koo Jun-yeop arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport in northern Taiwan at around 3 PM on a private jet from Haneda Airport in Japan. He was accompanied by Hsu's mother and other family members.

Koo, who disembarked from a VistaJet charter flight, was seen wearing a hat and mask to conceal his face, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. As he carried the pink urn containing Hsu's ashes to a vehicle, he reportedly asked a friend to shield it with an umbrella to prevent his wife from being startled by the crowd of reporters.

According to local media, Hsu's ashes will be interred at a memorial park in the Sanzhi area of New Taipei City. Although a farewell ceremony was anticipated, Koo and the family decided against holding any events, wishing for a quiet farewell.

Barbie Hsu passed away on February 2nd from acute pneumonia caused by the flu while on a family trip to Japan for the Lunar New Year. Her cremation took place in Japan.

Koo and Hsu were approaching their third wedding anniversary on March 8th, adding to the poignancy of the situation. The couple had a storied romance, having first met in 1998 when Koo was active in Taiwan with the group Clon. They dated for about a year but parted ways due to various circumstances. Hsu later married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011, with whom she had a son and a daughter, but they divorced in November 2021 after ten years of marriage.

Upon hearing of Hsu's divorce, Koo reached out to her using an old phone number, rekindling their relationship. They reunited and announced their marriage, enjoying their newlywed life between Taiwan and South Korea. The couple frequently expressed their affection for each other on social media.

Hsu's sister, Dee Hsu, shared the news of her passing, stating, "During our family trip to Japan for the Lunar New Year, my most loving and kind sister, Barbie, left us due to pneumonia caused by the flu." She added, "I am grateful to have been her sister in this life and will cherish the times we supported and cared for each other. Rest in peace, sister. I will love you forever." This statement was also posted on their joint Instagram account documenting their activities.

Barbie Hsu debuted in 1994 with her sister Dee as part of the group 'SOS,' later changing their name to 'ASOS' due to a dispute with their agency. She gained fame for her role as 'Shan Cai' in the 2001 Taiwanese version of 'Meteor Garden,' known to international fans. Hsu also built her acting career with roles in 'A Chinese Ghost Story' (2003) and 'Corner with Love' (2007).