Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu (left) and her husband Koo Jun-yup (Instagram)
Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu (left) and her husband Koo Jun-yup (Instagram)

Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu, the wife of South Korean singer Koo Jun-yup, has died of pneumonia at the age of 48, her sister confirmed to local media on Monday.

"During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister, Barbie, has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza," Dee Hsu, her sister, said in a statement shared by the actor's management.

In 2022, Hsu married Koo, with whom she had rekindled a relationship after 23 years. The couple’s love story captivated fans in both Taiwan and Korea at that time.

She was previously married to Chinese entrepreneur Wang Xiaofei for 11 years before their divorce in 2021. Hsu is survived by two children.

Hsu debuted in 1994 as part of the group SOS alongside her sister. She rose to fame across Asia after starring as Shancai in the Chinese television series "Meteor Garden," which aired from 2001 to 2002. She also appeared in drama series such as "A Chinese Ghost Story" (2003) and "Summer’s Desire" (2007), as well as films including "Reign of Assassins" (2010).