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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Memorial for Barbie Hsu unveiled

Memorial for Barbie Hsu unveiled

Published Feb 3, 2026 06:31 pm

At A Glance

  • Designed by her husband, South Korean musician Koo Jun-yup, the tribute was unveiled Feb. 2, in an intimate ceremony led by Barbie's mother.
Here’s something for “Meteor Garden” fans.
A memorial statue honoring Taiwanese icon Barbie Hsu—forever remembered as the original Shan Cai—was recently unveiled at her resting place in New Taipei.
Designed by her husband, South Korean musician Koo Jun-yup, the tribute was unveiled Feb. 2, in an intimate ceremony led by Barbie’s mother, affectionately known to fans as “S Mom.”
Set within the serene grounds of Chin Pao San, a private cemetery, the statue depicts a woman encircled by nine cubes.
Koo shared that the cubes symbolize the nine planets of the solar system, reflecting a love that transcends time and space.
Facing south toward Taipei, where Barbie’s family resides, the statue serves as a poignant expression of the family’s enduring bond with her and their wish for that love to last forever.
The unveiling drew familiar faces from across the Asian entertainment industry.
Among those who paid their respects were Super Junior’s Choi Si-won, veteran television producer Wang Wei-chung and his wife, beloved TV hosts Kevin Tsai and Matilda Tao, and singer-actress Rainie Yang.
Also present were F4 members Jerry Yan and Vic Chou, whose on-screen partnership with Barbie helped define a generation, as well as Taipei Financial Center Corp. chairperson Janet Chia and her husband, entertainment manager Chiu Li-kuan.
Barbie Hsu passed away on Feb. 2 last year at the age of 48. She succumbed to pneumonia after contracting influenza during a trip to Japan.
She first rose to fame in the 1990s as part of the pop duo S.O.S. (later known as ASOS) with her sister Dee Hsu. However, it was her unforgettable portrayal of Shan Cai in “Meteor Garden” that cemented Barbie Hsu’s place in pop culture history—one that continues to resonate with fans across Asia and beyond to this day.
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