The late Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu and her husband DJ Koo / Captured from Instagram of Wang Wei-chung's wife

Singer DJ Koo (Koo Jun-yup), a former member of dance duo Clon, will travel to Taiwan on Thursday, carrying the ashes of his late wife, Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu, who passed away suddenly on Sunday. She was 48.

Hsu's remains will be transported to Taiwan after cremation in Japan, following local regulations. She had been on a trip with her family when her condition worsened.

Her close friend, Janet Chia, chair of Taiwan's iconic skyscraper Taipei 101, shared on social media on Feb. 3, "She looked calm and peaceful, as if she were simply sleeping. Koo kissed her goodbye, sobbing uncontrollably, which broke all our hearts. In our next lives, we will still be sisters in Taiwan."

Hsu's final moments were spent with her loved ones, including Koo, her two children from her previous marriage, her mother and her younger sister, Dee Hsu.

Tributes from close friends continue to pour in. Kim Song, wife of Clon member Kang Won-rae, expressed her condolences on Instagram. She wrote, "I pray that Hee-won (Barbie Hsu), who used to call me 'eonni (elder sister), eonni' in her adorable voice, can now rest in peace. I hope their pain passes quickly, and may they find comfort."

She also left a message for DJ Koo, saying, "Don't force yourself to be OK. Cry as much as you need to, so you can mark the end of your love without regret."

On Wednesday, Taiwanese film producer Wang Wei-chung's wife, a close friend of Hsu, shared a photo of the couple on social media, writing, "I remember her beauty and kindness. Such wonderful memories. I miss you so much.'"

The Wang couple had hosted a dinner gathering on Jan. 25, where they spent time with Hsu, Koo and other friends.

According to Dee, Hsu had been feeling unwell with early flu symptoms but insisted on going on the family trip. However, her condition deteriorated upon arrival in Japan, with severe coughing. She was rushed to the hospital but passed away before receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment.

Hsu had a history of epilepsy and had been hospitalized multiple times due to seizures. Eight years ago, she fell into a coma from oxygen deprivation after suffering a seizure during childbirth.

Following her divorce from businessman Wang Xiaofei, legal disputes over asset division, child custody and alimony reportedly caused significant stress, further affecting her health.

While initial reports suggested pneumonia from the flu as the cause of death, later findings indicated sepsis as the direct cause. According to Japanese medical staff, her flu-induced pneumonia worsened, leading to a severe infection.

A source claiming to be connected to Hsu's local tour guide in Japan said she showed symptoms of coughing and asthma as early as Jan. 29. After receiving emergency care on Jan. 31, she was diagnosed with influenza on Feb. 1, prescribed medication and sent home. However, her condition worsened, requiring urgent hospitalization that night.

The late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu smiles during an event in Taipei to promote her movie "Future X-Cops," March 29, 2010. AP-Yonhap

Custody, inheritance disputes emerge

Discussions surrounding the custody of Hsu's two children and her inheritance have also surfaced. According to Taiwanese news outlet ETTV, her estate is estimated to be worth around 120 billion won ($90 million).

Legal experts suggest the assets may be divided equally among Koo and her two children. Custody of the children is expected to go to their biological father, Wang Xiaofei.

Meanwhile, Wang has faced criticism from Chinese and Taiwanese netizens following Hsu's passing. During their divorce, he publicly criticized Hsu and her mother and allegedly stopped paying child support after she remarried Koo.

After news of her death broke, he posted a comment under a video of them together, writing, "I miss my wife so much," which only fueled backlash.

Hsu first gained fame as the lead actress in the 2001-2002 Taiwanese adaptation of "Meteor Garden," an adaptation of the Japanese manga series "Boys Over Flowers," which was also adapted in Korea in 2009.

She married Wang Xiaofei in 2011, and they had a son and daughter together before divorcing in 2021. A year later, she reconnected with Koo, whom she had dated 20 years earlier, and the two announced their marriage in 2022.

The late Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu and her husband DJ Koo / Captured from Instagram

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.