Beloved Korean DJ To Forgo His Share Of The $80 Million Inheritance After The Sudden Tragic Death Of His Taiwanese Wife Barbie Hsu

The inheritance issue of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (48), who had passed away, is drawing attention.

Her husband, Korean DJ Koo Jun Yup (55), formerly of the group Clon, announced his intention to forgo his share of the inheritance and give everything to Hsu’s mother. However, Taiwanese legal experts have stated that it is “impossible” for Koo to renounce his inheritance in such a manner.

According to Taiwan’s ET Today on February 8, local lawyers explained, “Koo Jun Yup’s declaration holds no legal effect. The right to inheritance is personal and cannot be directly transferred to another person.”

Barbie Hsu’s estate is estimated to be worth approximately 600 million yuan (about 120 billion won or $82,601,393 ). On February 6, Koo took to Instagram to share, “Regarding the valuable legacy that Hsu left behind, I plan to give all my rights to my mother-in-law, as everything Hsu worked hard for was to protect her family.”

Under Taiwanese law, if there is no will, Barbie Hsu’s inheritance would be divided equally among Koo Jun Yup and her two children, with each receiving one-third. If Koo declines his share, the inheritance would be split equally between the two children, leaving Hsu’s mother with nothing.

A Taiwanese lawyer emphasized that since Koo is a Korean citizen, it must first be determined which country’s law applies. “If Taiwan is the primary place of residence and where the couple had the most substantial connection, Taiwanese law will govern the inheritance.”

To legally transfer his inheritance to Hsu’s mother, Koo would first need to complete the inheritance process and then gift his share to her, which would be subject to gift tax. The lawyer advised that tax planning would be necessary depending on the value of the transferred assets.

In 2011, Barbie Hsu married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei and had a son and daughter with him before their divorce in 2021. In March 2022, Barbie Hsu surprised fans by announcing her marriage to Koo Jun Yup, her ex-boyfriend from 20 years earlier. The couple reunited after 23 years and registered their marriage without a wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barbie Hsu passed away on February 2 while on a family trip to Japan. She succumbed to complications from pneumonia and the flu after missing the critical “golden time” for treatment despite visiting the hospital four times. Hsu’s family, including Koo Jun Yup, was by her side during her final moments.

Her body was cremated in Japan on February 3, and her ashes were brought back to Taiwan on February 5. Barbie Hsu’s ashes are temporarily placed at her home, while her sister Dee Hsu has applied for a tree burial, as per Barbie’s wishes. “She always wanted an eco-friendly tree burial,” Dee Hsu shared.

Source: (A)