The sudden death of Barbie Hsu, wife of Taiwanese celebrity DJ Koo and a well-known actress, has sparked much speculation. Experts suggest that her passing was not just a “sudden accident,” but rather a tragic medical event caused by a combination of underlying health issues and pneumonia.
KBS 2TV’s Secrets of Celebrity Illness (literal translation) aired an episode about DJ Koo and Barbie Hsu’s love story on February 3rd. During the show, Dr. Lee Nak Jun, an otolaryngologist, provided a medical explanation of the circumstances surrounding Barbie Hsu’s death.
Barbie Hsu passed away on February 2nd, 2025, after a short trip to Japan, where she experienced a mild fever. Her condition quickly worsened in the following days and led to acute pneumonia and sepsis. Dr. Lee explained that while pneumonia was the official cause of death, the rapid decline was very unusual. “It’s rare for a patient to deteriorate so quickly from pneumonia,” he said.
Dr. Lee pointed out that Barbie Hsu had underlying health conditions that likely contributed to her condition. “Barbie had a congenital heart condition known as mitral valve prolapse,” he explained. “This means her heart had to work harder to prevent blood from flowing backward.”
He also noted her history of preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension), which had led to a coma during childbirth. Dr. Lee warned that this medical history created a dangerous vulnerability. “With her heart function already weakened, the pneumonia infection likely acted as a catalyst and rapidly worsened her condition,” he stated.
He detailed the fatal progression: “When the lungs become inflamed, the pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels increases,” Dr. Lee explained. “If this leads to heart failure or fluid in the lungs, the situation becomes critical very quickly.”
Dr. Lee also explained that the fever-reducing medication Barbie had taken may have lowered her temperature, but it might not have been a good sign. “For someone with chronic conditions, a decrease in fever doesn’t always mean recovery,” he said. “It could mean the body is no longer fighting the infection, which is dangerous.”
Dr. Lee concluded that her death was not a random accident, but a medical inevitability. “This wasn’t a sudden, isolated incident,” he summarized. “It was a tragic chain reaction of existing health problems triggered by the infection.”
After her death, DJ Koo has been visiting his late wife’s grave at Jinbao Mountain Cemetery in Taiwan every day. On the first anniversary of her passing, he was seen in the pouring rain. He expressed his hope that Barbie Hsu would always be remembered. “I hope she is never forgotten,” he said.
>> DJ Koo Unveils Memorial Sculpture for Late Wife Barbie Hsu on First Anniversary of Her Death
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