As the heartbreaking love story of Koo Jun Yup and late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu continues to move fans, their first encounter from two decades ago has resurfaced, drawing renewed attention.
A YouTube clip from the Taiwanese show 100% Entertainment featuring the couple’s first meeting, which was heavily circulated when news of their marriage broke in 2022, continues to gather comments even today, with fans across borders writing, “May they be together longer in their next life” and “Wishing peace and comfort to the bereaved family.”
The footage captures the palpable chemistry between the two stars. Hsu greets Koo in Korean, saying “Hello, oh you’re handsome,” to which Koo responds with “Xie xie (Thank you)” in Mandarin.
When Hsu’s younger sister Dee Hsu asks about his ideal type, Koo replies, “I hope we can connect on an emotional level, and I’d like someone sophisticated.”
Taiwanese netizens, who affectionately refer to Koo as their “National Brother-in-Law,” have rallied to defend him against fake news spreading in China, stating, “We don’t pay attention to such nonsense.”
The couple’s movie-like reunion and tragic parting continue to touch hearts worldwide. After a brief year-long relationship around 1998, they went their separate ways due to personal circumstances. Following news of Hsu’s divorce, Koo reached out to her. Remarkably, despite her celebrity status in Taiwan, Hsu had maintained the same phone number for 20 years, leading many to call it “destiny.”
Hsu, who was approaching her third wedding anniversary with Koo, passed away after flu complications developed into pneumonia during a family trip to Japan. Her remains are reportedly set to be laid to rest in a tree burial site in Taiwan.
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