On February 3, Taiwanese media reported that actress Barbie Hsu passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia complications from the flu. Her younger sister, Dee Hsu, later confirmed the news, revealing that Barbie fell ill after a family trip to Japan during the Lunar New Year. Dee Hsu expressed deep sorrow, saying she would forever cherish their time together.
Barbie Hsu’s sudden passing shocked fans, especially as she had recently appeared healthy and actively supported her husband, Koo Jun-yup. She even shared a celebratory photo with him on December 31, making the news even more unexpected. The tragic announcement came just before the couple’s third wedding anniversary, deepening the grief of loved ones and fans alike.
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Custody of Barbie Hsu’s Children
With her passing, attention quickly turned to the custody of her two children, whom she shared with her ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei. Under Taiwanese law, custody is automatically granted to the surviving biological parent, meaning Wang Xiaofei is legally recognized as their guardian. Though Barbie Hsu lovingly raised the children after their divorce, and they were frequently seen together with Koo Jun-yup as a family, her remarriage did not legally alter their custody status since Koo Jun-yup never formally adopted them. Consequently, the children will return to Beijing to live with their father.
Taiwanese media reported that while Hsu’s family is saddened by the children’s departure, they have chosen to respect the legal decision. “We hope Wang Xiaofei and Zhang Lan will take good care of the children,” a source stated. Meanwhile, fans have flooded Koo Jun-yup’s social media with messages of comfort and condolences, as he has yet to release an official statement regarding custody matters.
Dispute Over Barbie Hsu’s Inheritance
The situation has been further complicated by discussions over the division of Barbie Hsu’s assets. Reports indicate that she left behind an estate worth approximately 110 billion won (about 75 million USD). By law, her assets would typically be inherited by her children and current husband, Koo Jun-yup. However, if Wang Xiaofei gains custody, he could control his children’s share of the inheritance.
Additionally, Wang Xiaofei has claimed that some of Barbie Hsu’s wealth was acquired with his financial contributions during their marriage, including real estate, bank accounts, and joint investments. This raises concerns about potential legal disputes over asset distribution.
According to several sources, Wang Xiaofei claims that a portion of Barbie Hsu’s assets were acquired with his financial contributions during their marriage. These include real estate, bank accounts, and joint investments.
Under Taiwanese law, a deceased person’s assets are distributed according to legal provisions or a will. Recently, shocking reports emerged claiming that Barbie Hsu had drafted a will last year. The will allegedly states that her entire estate will be inherited by her mother and two children. Many believe this document was prepared at a crucial time, potentially helping to resolve the ongoing inheritance disputes.
The topic of Barbie Hsu’s assets remains one of the top searches on China’s most popular SNS platform Weibo, but as of now, there has been no official confirmation or concrete evidence regarding the existence of Barbie Hsu’s will. If no will is found, her assets will be divided among her children and current husband in accordance with legal regulations.
There are also reports that Barbie Hsu drafted a will last year, allegedly leaving her entire estate to her mother and children. If confirmed, this could settle the inheritance dispute. However, as of now, there is no official confirmation regarding the existence of this will. If no valid will is found, her assets will be divided according to legal provisions, potentially igniting a prolonged legal battle between her ex-husband and current spouse.
Legal Complications and Koo Jun-yup’s Position
Further complicating matters, Chinese media reports on February 3 stated that Koo Jun-yup and Barbie Hsu did not register their marriage in Taiwan, though they were legally married in Korea. This legal technicality could jeopardize Koo Jun-yup’s claim to any inheritance and leave him without legal standing in the custody battle.
Moreover, since Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei had ongoing legal disputes before her passing, Koo Jun-yup may inherit these conflicts. While he has expressed intentions to ensure the children’s rights are protected until adulthood, it remains unclear whether he will continue legal actions regarding child support payments from Wang Xiaofei. Meanwhile, Wang’s mother, Zhang Lan, has publicly expressed strong attachment to the children, making a legal battle over custody seem likely.
On February 10, Taiwanese media outlet ETtoday reported that before their marriage, Koo Jun-yup and Barbie Hsu agreed to separate their assets and transferred a mansion to her mother. However, since this agreement was not notarized by the court, it may be deemed invalid, meaning Koo could still be entitled to a portion of Barbie Hsu’s estate.
While Koo Jun-yup has not spoken on custody matters, he recently addressed inheritance concerns, stating, “All of Hsu’s assets were earned through her hard work to protect her beloved family, so I intend to leave everything to my mother-in-law. As for the children, I will take legal measures through a lawyer to ensure their rights are protected until they reach adulthood and prevent ill-intentioned individuals from interfering.”
Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei were married in 2011 and had a son and a daughter before divorcing in 2021. She later rekindled her romance with Koo Jun-yup, her boyfriend from two decades ago, and remarried him in March 2022. With legal battles over her estate and custody of her children looming, her tragic passing has left behind a complex and deeply emotional situation that continues to unfold.
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