Barbie Hsu Wanted A Fresh Start In South Korea Before Her Death; Transferred 452 Million KRW For The Big Move

Late

actress Barbie Hsu had reportedly been planning a major new chapter in her life before her untimely death in February 2025. New reports claim the actress was preparing to relocate to South Korea with her husband, singer Koo Jun-Yup, and her two children, hoping to build a fresh life with her family. As part of those preparations, Barbie Hsu is said to have transferred around 452 million KRW to Korea and even researched schools for her children. However, this reportedly caused familial tensions.

Barbie Hsu's Korean dream that could not be fulfilled

Barbie Hsu, best known for her iconic role in Meteor Garden, had reportedly been making quiet preparations to move to South Korea with her husband Koo Jun-Yup and her two children before her tragic death. According to Taiwanese media outlets, the actress had been actively planning the relocation with Koo.The couple reportedly intended to settle in Korea as a family, with Barbie researching suitable schools for her children to ensure a smooth transition. To facilitate the move, she is also said to have transferred approximately 10 million New Taiwan dollars - equivalent to around 452 million KRW - to Korea.

The reports suggest that the move represented more than just a change of residence. It was reportedly intended to be a fresh start for Barbie, who had reunited with Koo Jun-Yup after years apart. The couple rekindled their romance following Barbie's divorce and legally registered their marriage in both Taiwan and South Korea in 2022.

Why was Barbie's mother against the relocation?

However, the relocation plans reportedly created friction within Barbie's family, particularly with her mother, Huang Chun-mei. According to the reports, Huang Chun-mei had managed Barbie Hsu's finances for many years and was opposed to returning control of those assets to her daughter. In an effort to ease tensions, Barbie reportedly transferred the ownership title of her luxury apartment in Taipei's National Arts Council residential complex to her mother. Despite those efforts, the family disagreements reportedly continued behind the scenes as Barbie prepared for what she hoped would be a new beginning in Korea.Barbie Hsu passed away on February 2, 2025, at the age of 48 while on a Lunar New Year family vacation in Japan. She died from acute pneumonia triggered by an influenza infection. Her death was publicly confirmed by her younger sister, Dee Hsu, and the news shocked fans across Asia and the entertainment industry.

Before marrying Koo Jun-Yup, Barbie Hsu was married to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011. The former couple welcomed a son and a daughter before ending their marriage in 2021. She later reunited with Koo, whom she had dated decades earlier, and the two quickly rekindled their relationship, marrying in 2022.Following Barbie Hsu's passing, attention also turned to her estate, which is estimated to be worth approximately 600 million RMB, or around $90 million USD (120 billion KRW). According to Wang Xiaofei's legal representative, Taiwanese inheritance laws provide that Barbie Hsu's estate will be divided equally among Koo Jun-Yup and her two children, with each receiving a one-third share.