Seo Hee-won, the wife of Clon member Koo Jun-yup and a Taiwanese actress, has passed away suddenly, shocking many, and her friends are unable to hide their grief.
On the 3rd (local time), Taiwanese media such as ET Today reported that Seo Hee-won was urgently transported to the hospital due to deteriorating health while on a family trip in Japan, but she passed away around 7 AM on the 2nd. Initially, the cause of death was reported as acute pneumonia due to the flu, but there are also claims that it was sepsis.
Following the sudden news of her death, there were suspicions that it might be fake news, but Koo Jun-yup stated in a phone call with a media outlet, “It’s not fake news,” expressing his sorrow. It is reported that Koo Jun-yup stayed by Seo Hee-won’s side until the end and bid her farewell with a kiss.
After the news of Seo Hee-won’s death was announced, her colleagues have continued to pay tribute.
Singer Kim Song posted on her SNS on the 4th, “Yesterday, I received the unbelievable news and was left in shock. Koo Koo oppa, it may not feel real right now, but don’t hold back and cry as much as you want. Don’t force yourself to be okay. Cry so that you have no regrets. So please put a good end to your love without regrets. I pray that the Hee-won who used to call me ‘sister’ with her cute pronunciation can rest comfortably there.”
Hong Kong actor Andy Lau (Liu Dehua) shared a tribute saying, “I remember the talented actress Barbie Hsu (Seo Hee-won’s English name) who touched many hearts. May she rest in peace.” Taiwanese popular actor Wu Zhongxuan (O Zhongxuan) also said, “I hope she has a good journey.”
Additionally, Zhu Xiaotian (Zhu Xiu Chen), who appeared with Seo Hee-won in the drama ‘Meteor Garden,’ expressed his shock, saying, “It’s like a bolt from the blue,” and Taiwanese film producer Wang Yuchong, known to be a close friend of Seo Hee-won, also conveyed his condolences.
Seo Hee-won debuted in 1994 as part of the group ‘SOS’ with her younger brother and is also famous for being the female lead in the Taiwanese version of ‘Boys Over Flowers.’ In Korea, she is known as ‘Taiwanese Geum Jan-di,’ named after the female lead of a domestic drama.
Seo Hee-won also garnered attention for her movie-like love story with Koo Jun-yup. They dated for about two years in the late 1990s before breaking up, and later married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011. However, they separated in 2021, and upon hearing this news, Koo Jun-yup reached out to Seo Hee-won, leading to their reunion. After 20 years of waiting, they became a couple in 2022, but the tragedy deepened as they faced bereavement just three years after their marriage.
The deceased's body will be cremated in Japan and transported to Taiwan for burial. Discussions are ongoing regarding whether there will be separate funeral procedures in Taiwan.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
