(Taipei, 4th)
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (Xu Xiyuan) marked the first anniversary of her passing on the 2nd. A memorial statue designed by her husband, Koo Jun-yup, was unveiled on the same day, with many relatives and close friends attending despite the rain.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese media cited a Korean program that revisited the circumstances leading up to Hsu’s death. According to the show Secrets of Celebrities’ Birth, Aging, Illness, and Death, which aired on the 3rd, Hsu developed a high fever while traveling in Japan with her family. She reportedly wanted to return home as soon as possible, and her family quickly arranged flights back to Taiwan.
However, during the trip to the airport, she suddenly lost consciousness in the car. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite prolonged emergency treatment, she did not recover.
The program also presented a detailed timeline from the start of her Japan trip through her final day. The report stated that Hsu traveled to Japan with her family on January 29, 2025, and soon after arriving, she experienced a high fever and severe body discomfort. Believing she might feel better by keeping warm, she reportedly tried soaking in a hotel hot spring, but her condition continued to worsen afterward.
She was later taken to the emergency room, where doctors noted her condition was serious and signs of infection had escalated. Medical staff reportedly recommended transferring her to a larger hospital for further care. Feeling anxious about being hospitalized abroad, Hsu was said to strongly wish to return home, prompting her family to arrange a return flight for February 2 and proceed with discharge.
Tragically, her condition deteriorated again on the way to the airport that afternoon, and she ultimately passed away.
