On October 18, Taiwanese media outlet CTWANT shared photos of Koo Jun-yup attending a private family party hosted by the family of his late wife, Barbie Hsu.
The event was organized by Barbie’s sister, Dee Hsu, who had just won the “Best Variety Show Host” award at the 60th Golden Bell Awards for her role in “Dee Girl Speech.” To mark the occasion, the family hosted a low-key party at a popular sukiyaki restaurant in Da’an District, Taipei, where Koo was seen in attendance.
Koo appeared modestly dressed in a brown short-sleeved T-shirt, his face partially covered by a cap and mask. Despite his typically reserved demeanor, he was photographed affectionately embracing his mother-in-law, Huang Chunmei, showing warmth and closeness to the Hsu family.
However, fans couldn’t help but notice the significant change in Koo’s physical appearance. Once known for his muscular physique, Koo looked visibly gaunt, raising concerns about his health. After Barbie Hsu’s sudden death in February from acute pneumonia during a trip to Japan, Koo was reportedly devastated. He is said to have eaten very little since his disappearance and has lost more than 14 kilograms. He also made daily visits to his resting place in Jinbaoshan Cemetery to mourn in solitude.
Koo and Barbie Hsu originally dated in 1998 for about a year before splitting up. Barbie then married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011, with whom she had a son and a daughter before divorcing in 2021. After hearing the news of her divorce, Koo contacted her via her old phone number, and the two rekindled their romance. They married in 2022, reuniting after more than two decades apart.
Sadly, their reunion was cut short when Barbie Hsu passed away earlier this year. Koo’s recent appearance, while touching in its display of familial closeness, also reflects the depth of pain he continues to endure.
Sources: Daum
