Koo Jun-yup & Hsu Hsi-yuan, A Miracle 20 Years in the Making and a Tragic Farewell After 3 Years

In the flow of modern popular culture, celebrity romances are often consumed as temporary topics of interest. However, the story shown by Korean artist Koo Jun-yup and Taiwanese actress Hsu Hsi-yuan symbolizes the restoration of the values of 'destiny' and 'Inyeon' that modern people are losing. Their story, reconnected through a single phone number after a long span of 20 years, was like a miracle created by analog purity in the digital age.

The connection between the two dates back to the late 1990s, before the term Hallyu was established. At that time, the Korean male duo 'Clon' was gaining explosive popularity in the Chinese-speaking world, solidifying their position as original Hallyu stars. In 1998, the concert hall of Taiwanese singer So Hye-ryun became a historical place where their fates intersected. At that time, the rising star Hsu Hsi-yuan became a fan of Koo Jun-yup after watching Clon's performance and was so proactive that she publicly expressed her affection on broadcasts.

Koo Jun-yup was also captivated by Hsu Hsi-yuan's pure and sophisticated image, and the two developed into lovers, transcending borders and language barriers. Hsu Hsi-yuan learned Korean, while Koo Jun-yup learned Chinese, making efforts to deeply understand each other's cultures. However, the entertainment industry in the late 1990s was extremely conservative regarding celebrity relationships. Faced with opposition from their agencies and practical barriers, Koo Jun-yup ultimately had to choose to part ways. Later, he confessed with painful regret, "I was foolish. I should have held onto her even if it meant giving everything up." On the day they broke up, the two spent the night at the airport holding each other and crying, facing a farewell without promise.

After the breakup, Hsu Hsi-yuan grew into an Asian top star through her role as 'Shan Cai' in the drama 'Meteor Garden' and experienced a tumultuous personal history, including marriage and divorce with Wang Xiao-fei. In contrast, Koo Jun-yup quietly walked his own path as a DJ in Korea. The surprising fact is that Hsu Hsi-yuan never changed the phone number she had during her long relationship with Koo Jun-yup. This reflects an unconscious desire to preserve past connections and a potential waiting for miracles.

In November 2021, after hearing the news of Hsu Hsi-yuan's divorce, Koo Jun-yup mustered the courage to call that number from 20 years ago. The voice he heard on the other end was still that of the girl. "Hi, wo shi Guangtou (Hello, I am Guangtou)." With that one phrase calling back a past nickname, 20 years of time vanished like magic. Even with borders closed due to the pandemic, the two became legally married through a marriage registration, achieving a movie-like reunion. The permanent tattoo rings engraved on each other's ring fingers were a strong expression of their determination never to part again.

However, fate cruelly did not allow them much time. In early February 2025, news broke that Hsu Hsi-yuan had died from an acute illness while traveling in Japan. Although it was reported as simple pneumonia, the reality was that underlying conditions such as 'mitral valve prolapse' and aftereffects from pregnancy-induced hypertension during a previous childbirth were the causes. The sudden temperature changes dealt a fatal blow to her weakened heart. The moment their love, which had reunited after 20 years, ended in bereavement just 3 years later.

Koo Jun-yup's life after losing his wife became a noble process of mourning. He stays near the Jinbaoshan Cemetery in Taiwan, visiting his wife every day. On February 2, 2026, at Hsu Hsi-yuan's first memorial service, Koo Jun-yup appeared wearing the old coat he received from her 27 years ago. This coat was not just an article of clothing but a testament to the loyalty and love he had kept during their years of separation. His last letter, saying, "When we meet again, let’s be together forever," touched the hearts of fans around the world. Their love, which overcame time, ended in tragedy, but the longing still burns like an unquenchable flame.