Late actress Barbie Hsu remembered through celestial tribute one year after death

Late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (Xu Xiyuan) has been honored with a lasting tribute in space, with an asteroid officially named after her nearly a year after her passing.

According to reports from Hong Kong media outlet Sing Tao Daily on June 15, the international astronomical community has officially designated asteroid No. 208663 as “Xuxiyuan,” using Barbie Hsu’s Chinese name.

The asteroid was originally discovered in April 2002 at an observatory in Arizona by renowned Hong Kong amateur astronomer Yeung Kwong Yu. The astronomer has previously named asteroids after several iconic Chinese-language entertainment figures, including Brigitte Lin, Teresa Teng, and Leslie Cheung.

Barbie Hsu, widely known across Asia and also recognized in Korea as the wife of Koo Jun Yup of legendary duo CLON, passed away in February 2025 at the age of 48 after suffering acute pneumonia during a trip to Japan.

Since her passing, Koo Jun Yup has continued to publicly mourn his wife, reportedly visiting her memorial site regularly and personally designing a commemorative sculpture in her honor.

The tribute comes as Barbie Hsu’s younger sister, Taiwanese television personality Dee Hsu (Xu Xi Di), recently shared an emotional message remembering her late sibling on her own 48th birthday.

Instead of celebrating, Dee reflected on memories of participating in a charity racing event with her sister and expressed how deeply she still misses her.

“You will forever remain 48 years old, and today I turned 48,” she wrote. “From now on, I suppose I will gradually become your older sister. I’ll take care of you now and tell you everything happening at home. Don’t worry, because I’m here.”

Her heartfelt message moved fans across Asia, many of whom continue to remember the actress for both her successful career and her enduring love story with Koo Jun Yup, whom she reunited with and married more than 20 years after their original relationship.

With her name now permanently etched among the stars, Barbie Hsu’s legacy will continue to shine both in the hearts of fans and in the night sky.