Singer Koo Jun-yeob marked the first anniversary of his wife Seoheewon's passing by creating a memorial statue and shared a handwritten letter expressing deep longing.
Koo Jun-yeob said on Feb. 2, "It has already been a year since Seoheewon left our side. I made the sculpture because I wanted her to always remain with us." He continued, "Seoheewon always used to say, 'I am an alien from outer space,'" and explained, "So I wanted to create Seoheewon's own galaxy here." He said the nine cubes placed on the statue symbolize the nine planets including the sun, and conveyed that it also carried the meaning of the number "9," which the deceased regarded almost like a lucky number.
He also added a special story about the direction the statue faces. Koo Jun-yeob said, "The direction Seoheewon looks toward is south, about 208 degrees," and said, "In that direction is Taipei, so she can always look toward her family there and me." He added that "208 is also the number that represents our wedding anniversary, Feb. 8."
That day he, addressing those who attended the unveiling, said, "As Seoheewon's husband, I thank everyone who came from afar," and, "Seoheewon, I miss you," and broke down in tears. The released video showed Koo Jun-yeob watching the statue being made while remembering his wife and scenes from the unveiling. The deceased's mother and younger sister Seoheeje embraced the completed statue and wept, and acquaintances also had red-rimmed eyes.
After the unveiling, Koo Jun-yeob revealed a handwritten letter he wrote, conveying his heartfelt feelings. He began, "To my eternal love, my everything, Seoheewon," and wrote, "In the morning in the empty room I still can't tell if it's reality or a dream. When I think about what food you would like and drive to Jinbaoshan, my tears won't stop." He continued, "I'm sorry for showing such a weak side, but this is the last way I can soothe my longing for you," and ended, "When we meet next time, let's be together forever. I miss you so much, to death."
According to local Taiwanese media, the unveiling took place in the Beilim master area of Jinbaoshan Memorial Park in Taiwan. Husband Koo Jun-yeob, the deceased's mother and younger sister Seoheeje attended, and longtime colleagues of Koo Jun-yeob including Kang Won-rae, Hong rok-ki, and Choi Si-won, as well as Taiwanese entertainers, were present to console the bereaved.
Koo Jun-yeob and Seoheewon were lovers more than 20 years ago, and in 2022 they dramatically reunited and became a married couple, known as the "couple of the century" in Korea and Taiwan. However, Seoheewon suddenly passed away last year on Feb. 2 during a trip to Japan with her family from complications of acute pneumonia caused by the flu. She was 48. Her remains were cremated in Japan and moved to Taiwan, where she was interred at Jinbaoshan.
[Photo] Koo Jun-yeob SNS
[OSEN]