Koo Jun-yup Named Legal Heir to One-Third of Barbie Hsu Estate, Ex-Husband Says

Koo Jun-yup has been identified as the legal heir to one-third of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu’s estate, according to a statement from her former husband Wang Xiaofei’s side. The statement, reported by Korean outlets citing Taiwanese media ETtoday, addresses a wave of speculation around how Hsu’s assets will be divided after her death and whether members of her family have been in conflict over the process.

Hsu, also known in Korea as Seo Hee-won and internationally for her work in Taiwanese entertainment, married Korean singer and DJ Koo Jun-yup in 2022 after reconnecting with him decades after their earlier relationship. She died in February 2025 during a family trip to Japan after complications linked to acute pneumonia. Her death drew broad attention across Korea, Taiwan, and the wider Asian entertainment world because of the couple’s widely followed reunion story.

According to the reports, Wang Xiaofei’s legal representative said Wang had applied for the appointment of a special court representative to protect the rights of the two minor children he had with Hsu. A court-appointed lawyer is now handling the estate division process. The statement said the children are expected to inherit two-thirds of the estate, while Koo, as Hsu’s surviving spouse, is entitled to the remaining one-third under the relevant legal framework.

The representative also said Wang respects Koo’s right to decide how to handle his legal share. That point is significant because Koo previously said publicly that Hsu’s assets were the result of her hard work and that he intended to give authority over his portion to Hsu’s mother. The latest statement does not say that any transfer has been completed; instead, it frames Koo’s one-third share as a legal entitlement whose use remains his decision.

A Statement Aimed At Stopping Rumors

The inheritance issue has been surrounded by repeated rumors since Hsu’s death. Some reports suggested tension between Koo and Hsu’s mother, while others claimed the family might be preparing for legal action. Hsu’s family members had already pushed back against those claims. Her mother described Koo as family and rejected the idea that they were locked in a dispute, while Hsu’s younger sister also defended him as someone who had sincerely loved the late actress.

Wang’s side also addressed questions about property tied to Hsu’s estate, including a Taipei residence that had been the subject of mortgage and auction rumors. The statement said Wang had been paying the portion of housing debt linked to the two children since Hsu’s death and denied that the property was at risk of being auctioned. It also denied claims that Hsu’s mother had been asked to leave the home, saying Wang and the children supported her continuing to live there.

Those details appear intended to draw a clearer line between confirmed legal proceedings and online speculation. Estate cases involving public figures often attract attention not only because of the money involved, but also because they touch on family roles, guardianship, property ownership, and grief. In this case, the public interest has been intensified by Hsu and Koo’s cross-border celebrity profile and the emotional nature of their marriage story.

What The Estate Division Means

The reported division does not necessarily mean that assets will be distributed immediately. When minor children are involved, courts and legal representatives may need to review how shares are protected, managed, or placed into accounts or trusts. Korean reports said Wang’s side referred to a dedicated trust-style account for the children’s shares, emphasizing that decisions about their inheritance would be handled with their best interests as the priority.

For Koo, the statement places him in a delicate public position. Legally, he is described as a beneficiary of one-third of the estate. Personally, he has previously signaled that he does not want the matter to be viewed as a fight over money. That distinction matters because the public narrative around Hsu’s estate has often moved faster than the legal process itself, with unverified claims spreading before official positions were clarified.

The statement from Wang’s side asks media and internet users to avoid unconfirmed speculation, saying inaccurate reports have caused pain to the family. For now, the clearest confirmed development is that a legal process is underway: the two children are expected to receive two-thirds of Hsu’s estate, Koo’s one-third share is acknowledged, and Wang’s side says it will respect Koo’s decision regarding that portion.

As the proceedings continue, the story remains less about a finalized payout than about how a high-profile family is trying to manage inheritance, guardianship, and public scrutiny after a sudden loss.