Koo Jun-yup Says He’ll Forfeit Barbie Hsu’s Inheritance, But Lawyers Say It’s Not That Simple
Chinese-language media outlets continue to show strong interest in the inheritance of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu following her unexpected passing.
As public attention remains fixed on the estate, Taiwanese media are closely monitoring the moves of Hsu's husband, Koo Jun-yup, and her ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei.
Koo Jun-yup has made it clear that he has no intention of claiming any part of Hsu's inheritance, stating, "All of Hsu's assets were earned through her hard work to protect the family she loved. I intend to give my legal rights entirely to my mother-in-law." He also emphasized, "I will ensure through legal means that no bad actors can take advantage of the children's inheritance until they reach adulthood."
Taiwanese news outlet ET Today commented that Koo's decision to forgo the inheritance was predictable, highlighting his past loyalty to his longtime collaborator Kang Won-rae. The report praised Koo as "a kind and righteous person who never abandons his team."
In contrast, Wang Xiaofei has come under fire for allegedly attempting to gain control over Hsu's assets, drawing widespread criticism.
However, legal experts in Taiwan have pointed out that Koo Jun-yup cannot simply transfer his inheritance rights to his mother-in-law.
One lawyer explained, "As the legal spouse, Koo Jun-yup has a rightful claim to inheritance, and he cannot directly transfer that right to another person. If he chooses to forfeit the inheritance, it will automatically pass to Hsu's two children, and the mother-in-law would receive nothing." This raises concerns that Wang Xiaofei, as the father of the children, could leverage his parental rights to claim control over the inheritance.
Given these legal constraints, experts suggest that Koo may need to first complete the inheritance process, pay the necessary taxes, and then formally transfer the assets to his mother-in-law.
Furthermore, since Koo has publicly vowed to protect the children's inheritance until they become adults, a potential legal battle over custody rights with Wang Xiaofei is also anticipated.
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