The sudden passing of Barbie Hsu, a beloved Taiwanese star and the wife of Clon’s Koo Jun Yup, has been met with an outpouring of grief. Her mother’s heartfelt plea has added to the sorrow surrounding her death.

On February 3, local outlets such as Taiwan’s ET Today and the Central News Agency (CNA) reported that Barbie Hsu passed away from pneumonia caused by the flu while traveling in Japan. She was 48 years old.

Barbie had left for Japan with her family on January 29, but by January 31, her condition had worsened. She was quickly transferred to a hospital in Tokyo, where she tragically passed away on February 2.

Her family is currently staying in Japan, and her remains will be cremated there before being sent to Taiwan.

In response to the news, Taiwan’s film producer Wang Wei Zhong, a close friend of Barbie Hsu’s family, stated on behalf of her mother. He shared, "The family is deeply grieving Barbie’s death, and we kindly ask for your understanding as we are unable to provide further details at this time."

He added, "The process of bringing Barbie back to Taiwan involves complex procedures, so her family will not be able to return for a while. During her lifetime, Barbie was most concerned about being filmed by the press. We ask that you refrain from taking photos or pursuing the family when they return to Taiwan with her. This was her lifelong wish, and we hope you can respect that."

Barbie Hsu, one of Taiwan’s top stars, debuted in 1994 as part of the duo SOS with her younger sister, Dee Hsu. She quickly became a household name, starring in hits such as 'Meteor Garden,' 'A Chinese Ghost Story,' 'Reign of Assassins,' and 'Croczilla.'

In 2022, Barbie reunited with her former lover Koo Jun Yup after 23 years, and their marriage captivated the public, drawing attention to their movie-like love story.

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