On February 2, major media outlets in Korea, Taiwan and Greater China reported, “Barbie Hsu suddenly passed away due to acute pneumonia while traveling in Japan with her family.” She was 48 years old.
Barbie Hsu‘s younger sister, broadcaster Dee Hsu, also officially confirmed her passing through her agency on February 3, stating, “My sister, Barbie Hsu, has tragically left us.“
Barbie Hsu Rose to Stardom as Shan Cai
Born in 1976, Barbie Hsu debuted in the entertainment industry in 1994 at the age of 18 as part of the girl group SOS (Sisters of Shu) with her younger sister Dee Hsu. The sisters, known as “Big S” (Barbie Hsu) and “Little S” (Dee Hsu), gained recognition as a popular idol duo.
Barbie Hsu skyrocketed to fame in 2001 when she played the lead role of Shan Cai (the Korean equivalent of Geum Jan-di) in “Meteor Garden”, the Taiwanese adaptation of the hit manga “Boys Over Flowers”. The drama, which depicted the struggles of a strong-willed working-class girl entangled with wealthy heirs at an elite private school, became a massive sensation across Asia, making Barbie Hsu a household name. Many fans still consider her portrayal of Shan Cai the best live-action adaptation of the original character.
Throughout the 2000s, Barbie Hsu continued her acting career, starring in various films and dramas spanning historical, fantasy, comedy and action genres. While she was primarily associated with youthful and innocent roles due to “Meteor Garden”, she showcased a diverse acting range. Notably, in 2003, she played the lively ghost Nie Xiaoqian in “Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story”, offering a fresh take compared to the film version starring Joey Wong. In 2004, she reunited with her “Meteor Garden” co-star Jerry Yan in the melodrama “Mars”, where she took on a darker and more melancholic role.
In 2010, she broke away from her typical image by playing the femme fatale assassin Ye Zhanqing in John Woo’s “Reign of Assassins”, starring alongside Jung Woo-sung. She also appeared in various other projects, including the dramas “Say Yes Enterprise” and “Summer’s Desire”, as well as films like “Connected” and “Future X-Cops”.
Barbie Hsu and Koo Jun-yup: Love, Separation and Reunion
As the 2010s progressed, Barbie Hsu’s acting career slowed down. In 2011, she married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei and focused on family life, stepping away from the entertainment industry. Though she never officially announced her retirement, she had largely ceased acting by the late 2010s. In a reality show appearance with her sister, she candidly revealed that she struggled with the limited roles available to actresses in their 40s, recounting how she turned down a role as a young star’s mother.
Health issues also played a significant role in her career decline. Barbie Hsu had been frail since her youth and reportedly suffered from worsening depression and epilepsy due to marital stress. In 2021, she divorced Wang Xiaofei and withdrew from public life for some time.
Her name resurfaced in headlines in 2022 when she reunited with her former lover Koo Jun-yup and announced their second chance at love. Their reunion, spanning two decades, captivated audiences in both Korea and Taiwan.
Koo Jun-yup later shared their love story on “You Quiz on the Block”, revealing that Barbie Hsu had been a fan of his group Clon. They first met in 1998 when Clon appeared on a Taiwanese show hosted by Barbie Hsu and her sister. The two began dating but eventually separated due to conservative views on celebrity relationships at the time. Koo Jun-yup later admitted, “I regretted it deeply and felt sorry. I was a coward back then.” He also shared an emotional detail—that a jacket Barbie Hsu wore in “Meteor Garden” was actually a couple’s item they had bought together during their relationship.
Despite Barbie Hsu’s marriage and motherhood, Koo Jun-yup remained single into his 50s. In 2021, upon hearing about her divorce, he impulsively dialed her old phone number, which, to his surprise, she had never changed. Their phone call rekindled their love, with Koo confessing, “After just a few conversations, it felt like we were back to 20 years ago.“
Koo Jun-yup: Taiwan’s “National Brother-in-Law”
At the time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Koo Jun-yup and Barbie Hsu could only continue dating through video calls. According to Taiwan’s quarantine policy, foreign nationals could only enter the country if they were family members of a local resident. As a result, Koo Jun-yup proposed to Barbie Hsu as a way to reunite with her, and she accepted.
When Koo Jun-yup announced his marriage to Barbie Hsu, it became a hot topic in both Korea and Taiwan. In Taiwan, the public was so enthusiastic that even his arrival and quarantine process were broadcast live. Local netizens affectionately called him nicknames such as “Baldy” and “National Brother-in-law”, showing their overwhelming support.
Later, Koo Jun-yup surprised fans by releasing a video of his first reunion with Barbie Hsu after 20 years. Recalling that emotional moment, he said, “When Barbie Hsu bravely hugged me first, I thought, ‘Yes, she’s the one.’” His eyes welled up as he shared his feelings. Their courageous embrace, overcoming 20 years of separation, nationality, distance and even the pandemic, deeply moved many people.
The couple officially registered their marriage in Korea, becoming husband and wife. Over the past three years, they maintained their bond as a couple, receiving immense love and attention in both countries as an exemplary pair. There were news that the couple didn’t register their marriage in Taiwan, but facts revealed that this may be misinformation.
In particular, local media outlets, including Taiwan’s TVBS, reported that Koo Jun-yup and Barbie Hsu completed their marriage registration in Taiwan on March 28, 2022. It was reported that Barbie Hsu’s manager registered the marriage in Taiwan on her behalf due to the large number of reporters.
However, tragically, their happiness was short-lived. During the Lunar New Year holidays, Barbie Hsu traveled to Japan with her family but suddenly passed away due to complications from pneumonia following the flu. Her unexpected departure left Koo Jun-yup and fans in shock and grief.