Former Husband and Mother-in-Law of Late Seo Hee-won Face Permanent Social Media Ban
On February 8, multiple Taiwanese media outlets reported that Wang Su-bi, the ex-husband of the late Seo Hee-won, and his mother, Zhang Lan, have received an indefinite suspension of their social media accounts from Douyin, the parent company of TikTok. This action was taken due to allegations that they maliciously exploited the deceased for profit. Additionally, the streaming platform Wave has halted Zhang Lan's live broadcasts, citing that she defamed the deceased and her family.
Seo Hee-won tragically passed away on February 2 while traveling in Japan with her family, succumbing to pneumonia caused by the flu. After conducting some funeral rites in Japan, her family returned to Taiwan with her ashes on February 5.
On the same day that Seo Hee-won's family returned to Taiwan, Zhang Lan conducted a live commerce session, reportedly earning 1 million yuan (approximately 198.88 million KRW). This led to public outrage, with many accusing her of profiting from her deceased daughter-in-law. Despite the backlash, Zhang Lan defended her actions, stating, "I have 7,000 employees to support, and I need to broadcast to provide for them."
Meanwhile, Wang Su-bi returned from a trip to Thailand upon hearing the news of Seo Hee-won's death. He expressed his sorrow in front of reporters, stating, "Seo Hee-won will always be my family," while also being seen walking in the rain. However, he faced criticism for leaving a comment on an old video featuring Seo Hee-won, saying, "I miss my wife," despite being remarried.
Additionally, rumors circulated that Wang Su-bi chartered a private flight to bring Seo Hee-won's ashes back to Taiwan, which angered her family. Speculation regarding Seo Hee-won's estate and custody of their children also emerged.
In response to the situation, Gu Jun-yeop took to social media on February 6 to express his grief, stating, "My angel has returned to heaven. I deeply thank everyone who mourns for Hee-won. I am currently going through indescribable sorrow and pain. I have no strength or desire to speak."
He further criticized those who began to tarnish his family's reputation shortly after their loss, saying, "Some pretend to be sad while others spread false news about insurance and costs to hurt us. It terrifies me to think that such evil people truly exist in this world."
Seo Hee-won was married to Chinese businessman Wang Su-bi and had two children with him before their divorce in 2021. She remarried Gu Jun-yeop the following year.
