Rising K-pop boy group CORTIS is once again making headlines, but this time it’s not for their performances or chart rankings. A recent revelation about member JAMES (Zhao Yufan) has stirred excitement among Taiwanese fans, as official documentation from Pandora Music confirms his hometown as “Taipei”, marking the first time his origin has been explicitly acknowledged in public records.
The confirmation comes via the group’s newly released individual profile cards, which list personal information such as musical inspirations and hometowns. While fans have long speculated about Zhao Yufan’s Taiwanese roots—pointing to his fluency in Mandarin and his education at Zhitan Elementary School, Minzu Junior High, and Chuang Ching Vocational High School in New Taipei—this marks the first official recognition by the group’s label or promotional partners.
The news quickly went viral among fans in Taiwan, with many celebrating the moment on social media. Some hailed it as a proud moment for Taiwanese representation in K-pop, while others expressed excitement about his growing prominence both locally and globally.
Since debuting in August 2025, CORTIS—comprising JAMES (Zhao Yufan), JUHOON (Kim Juhoon), MARTIN (Park Woojoo), SEONGHYEON (Uhm Sunghyun), and KEONHO (Ahn Geonho)—has experienced a meteoric rise. In just over three months, the group clinched the “Best New Artist” award at the MAMA Awards, amassed over 7.4 million Instagram followers, and surpassed 200 million total streams on Spotify.
James – Zhao Yufan, the eldest in the group, has consistently caught attention for his unique background and warm on-stage demeanor. During a recent appearance at the AAA Awards in Kaohsiung, he earned praise from local fans after delivering part of his speech in fluent Mandarin.
Adding to the buzz, the Pandora profile also revealed the members’ earliest concert experiences and artistic inspirations. Zhao cited BIGBANG as the first concert he attended, and credited “everyone” as his source of creative inspiration—highlighting his broad appreciation for people and experiences. His bandmates named acts like BTS, TXT, SUGA, and Radiohead among their influences.
Even outside the typical fanbase, CORTIS fever is spreading fast. Taiwanese actor Kai Ko previously revealed himself as a proud COER—the official fandom name—sparking a wave of celebrity supporters.
Sources: Yahoo News