Taiwanese television host Dee Hsu, the younger sister of late actress Barbie Hsu, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her brother-in-law, South Korean artist Koo Jun-yup, aka DJ Koo, for his enduring love and devotion to her sister.
On her personal social media page, Dee thanked Koo for leading the unveiling ceremony of Barbie’s memorial statue on the first anniversary of the actress’s passing.
“Thanks to my brother-in-law, (Koo Jun-Yup) for designing such a beautiful statue for my sister, I hope that people who love Big S (Barbie), when you miss her, can come and see her and talk to her,” Dee wrote.
She went on to reflect on moments that bring her comfort amid her grief: “When I fall into the depths of sadness, (I) just think (of) my sister three years before she passed away, accompanied by my brother-in-law, (Koo Jun Yup).”
Dee also spoke about the sincerity of Koo’s love for Barbie, saying it deepened her appreciation for him.
“[He is] a man who truly loves her, doesn't ask for everything, doesn't want to love anything other than love, holding a clean, simple, no impurity heart [that] protects my sister. As long as I think like this, my heart will calm down, so I really appreciate my brother-in-law!” she remarked.
READ: Remembering ‘Shan Cai’ Barbie Hsu a year after her sudden farewell
She added that their mother, publicly known as S Mom, found comfort in seeing the statue dedicated to Barbie.
“When my mom saw the statue of Big S today she said: ‘My baby, you’ve come back to me.’ (I) trust (that) my mom's heart today, the hole (she had), should be filled ❤,” she expressed.
According to reports, it was their mother who officially unveiled the statue during the ceremony.
Dee also extended her gratitude to those who joined the family in honoring Barbie’s memory a year after her passing.
“Also thank you to the close friends and relatives who came to participate today, offering a flower for my sister in the rain. Today if it was the big sun, it would not be my sister's style,” she said.
The memorial ceremony was held at Chin Pao San Memorial Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, where Barbie’s family, close friends, and colleagues gathered to pay tribute to the late actress. Barbie Hsu passed away at the age of 48 on February 2, 2025 due to pneumonia caused by influenza complications.
The memorial statue was personally designed by DJ Koo. It depicts a young woman with her hands folded over her chest, reflecting Barbie’s elegant demeanor. The sculpture is surrounded by nine cubes, which Koo said symbolize nine planets. The statue faces south toward Taipei, where Barbie’s family resides, an intentional design representing the family’s enduring love and their wish for it to last forever.
DJ Koo also shared a handwritten letter addressed to his late wife, expressing the depth of his grief and longing.
“I still can’t tell if this is reality or a dream. I wish it were a dream, and my chest grows heavy and painful,” he expressed. “Barbie, my love. When we meet again, let’s be together forever and ever. I miss you. I miss you so much it hurts.”
Aside from family members, broadcaster and writer Kevin Tsai, one of Barbie Hsu’s closest friends, also delivered a message in her honor.
“Today I saw your sculpture,” he said. “It is made of bronze and marble—strong materials. As I looked at it, I sighed quietly in my heart. You deserved to be cared for, but fate kept demanding that you be strong. Then let us be strong, my friend. The beautiful traces you left behind cannot be erased even by death. There is no strength more beautiful than this.”
Colleagues and friends, including Meteor Garden co-stars Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, and Rainie Yang; Corner with Love co-star Show Lo; Super Junior’s Choi Si-won, Taiwanese television producer Wang Wei-chung; and TV hosts Kevin Tsai and Matilda Tao were also among those who attended the ceremony.