Late Taiwanese musician Lee Kun Cheng’s 40-year-younger wife now homeless, begs for food

Late Taiwanese musician Lee Kun Cheng (L) and his wife Lin Jing En, who is 40 years his junior. Photo from Lee Kun Cheng super topic Weibo

Next Apple reported on Sunday that Lin was spotted asking a shop staff member for food, but the staff member replied "No, this is for sale." Lin then asked for a drink and requested to use the restroom. A customer approached Lin, offering to buy food for her, but she became suspicious and glared at the customer, causing them to back off.

After Lee’s passing in April 2023, Lin was also caught stealing. In November, a Taiwanese court disclosed that Lin had damaged property at a hotel and stolen food from locals. She was also caught stealing drinks at a convenience store, which led to the staff calling the police. With sufficient evidence, the court found Lin guilty of theft and fined her NT$3,000 (US$92.35).

According to Lee’s son Zhouxuan, Lin inherited the late musician’s house. After she sold the house, the money was placed into a trust fund, from which she receives NT$30,000 monthly. Zhouxuan mentioned that Lin could continue receiving this amount for at least 10 years.

However, Lin is often spotted spending her nights at an ATM or in hotel rooms.

Lin and Lee started dating when Lin was just 16, sparking public controversy due to their age difference. Despite her parents’ objections, Lin moved in with Lee and did not work, relying entirely on her boyfriend for financial support. The musician faced much criticism, with people claiming he "ruined Lin Jing En’s life." Nevertheless, the couple remained determined to stay together, even though they did not legally registered their marriage.

In a 2023 interview with Next Apple, Lin revealed that she had not returned to her parents’ home for 10 years, and they had not contacted her. However, Lee filled the emotional void for her.

"He taught me all the flavors of life," she said. "Without him, my life would have been dull. I never regret loving him."

In 2023, Lee’s health deteriorated after being diagnosed with colon cancer. During his final months, he was hospitalized and cared for by Lin. He passed away in April 2023, two months after holding a simple wedding ceremony with Lin in the hospital.

During his lifetime, Lee was actively involved in Taiwan’s music industry. He was the lyricist for several popular songs by Taiwanese artists such as Fong Fei Fei and Lo Ta Yu. In addition to writing lyrics, he held a management position at a music production company.