Taipei, Taiwan – Nearly a year after the sudden death of beloved Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, widely known as Big S, lingering questions over her estate, property, and child custody remain unresolved. New reports from local media have revealed that before her passing in February 2024, Hsu had been actively planning to relocate her family to South Korea, including transferring funds and scouting schools for her children.
According to Taiwanese news outlets, Hsu—who had remarried South Korean musician Koo Jun-yup (DJ Koo) in 2022—was in the process of moving her life abroad. Sources claim she transferred millions of New Taiwan dollars to South Korea to support her husband’s career and had begun discreetly liquidating assets. The reports also allege that Hsu’s mother, Huang Chun-mei, known as S妈, grew increasingly concerned about her daughter’s dependence on overseas arrangements and the logistics of moving substantial capital. This reportedly led to tension between the mother and daughter in the months before Hsu’s death.
When asked about the allegations, S妈 gave a terse response to the press. “For a media outlet that hasn’t interviewed me about anything, I don’t want to answer their questions,” she said. “I haven’t bought the paper, and I don’t know what they wrote. But I know it’s not positive energy, so I won’t even look at it.”
In response to the controversy over asset transfers and rental disputes, family friends speaking on behalf of the Hsu family have pushed back. They emphasized that Hsu had always been deeply attached to Taipei and considered it her permanent home. “The possibility that Big S would transfer large amounts of assets overseas is extremely low,” a close associate told local media.
Hsu died at age 48 in February 2024 from complications of influenza, leaving behind two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. Her death triggered a highly publicized legal battle over custody, inheritance, and the ownership of a luxury apartment in Taipei’s Xinyi District, which had been a subject of dispute between Hsu and her ex-husband.
Estate and Custody at the Forefront
Legal experts note that under Taiwanese law, the estate of a deceased spouse is divided equally among surviving family members, including the current spouse and children. However, if Hsu had indeed moved funds to Korea without clear documentation, it could complicate the inheritance process. Child custody, particularly given the children’s dual citizenship and their father’s ongoing legal actions, remains a separate and sensitive issue.
The case has reignited public discussion on cross-border estate planning and the challenges of managing assets across jurisdictions. With no official statement from Hsu’s estate or her widower, DJ Koo, the full extent of her relocation plans—and their impact on the ongoing disputes—remains unclear.
Broader Implications
As the family navigates these complex legal and emotional waters, observers say the outcome could set a precedent for how high-net-worth individuals in Asia manage inheritance and custody when multiple countries are involved. For now, S妈’s words serve as a reminder of the grief behind the headlines: “I just hope my daughter is at peace.”
