Zhao Yufan

Zhao Yufan, known professionally as James, is a Hong Kong–born, Taiwan‑raised Thai‑Chinese singer‑songwriter, dancer, and choreographer. He is the eldest member of BigHit Music's boy group CORTIS, which debuted in August 2025 with the single "What You Want." James is recognized as the group's main dancer and a key creative contributor, co‑writing and choreographing tracks from their debut EP. His multilingual fluency in five languages and multicultural background give him a distinctive international presence in K‑pop. As of 2026, he continues to promote with CORTIS while also writing songs for labelmates ILLIT and TXT. [edit]

James was born Zhao Yufan on October 14, 2005, in Hong Kong, to a Chinese father and a Thai mother. He grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, where his exposure to multiple languages and cultures shaped his global outlook. He became a trainee under BigHit Music and was selected for the pre‑debut project Trainee A, which built a following through YouTube and social media. Trainee A disbanded in 2022 without officially debuting, but James remained at BigHit as a trainee, continuing to train in vocals, rap, dance, and production. His persistence paid off when he was chosen for CORTIS, BigHit's third boy group after BTS and TXT. [edit]

CORTIS debuted on August 18, 2025, with the single "What You Want," preceded by the pre‑release digital single "GO!" on August 11. James co‑choreographed and co‑wrote "GO!" and contributed to the debut EP "Color Outside the Lines." The EP debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, the second‑highest debut for a K‑pop act's first album, and sold over two million copies. CORTIS won group awards at the Asia Artist Awards, MAMA Awards, and Golden Disc Awards in late 2025. Beyond group activities, James has written and composed songs for ILLIT and TXT, establishing himself as an in‑house songwriter at BigHit. [edit]

James is often described as a multilingual dancer and creative powerhouse. His global, cosmopolitan image stems from his Thai‑Chinese heritage, Hong Kong birth, and Taiwan upbringing. Media and fans highlight his role as the eldest foreign member in a BigHit group, bridging global and Korean audiences. His social media presence is warm and introspective, introducing himself with thoughtful statements about his background. Fans emphasize his polyglot abilities, choreography skills, and songwriting credits, while his anime fandom gives him a creative, slightly nerdy persona. [edit]

Zhao Yufan currently holds no placement in the published iFANN Global Top 1,000 rankings or any Top-100 scope list. Despite this lack of a formal numeric ranking, his immediate impact since debuting with CORTIS has carved out a distinct space in global pop culture discourse. The energy surrounding him is palpable, driven by rapid viral moments that have swept through social media platforms worldwide. His fanbase operates without a single official name, instead coalescing around informal hashtags like #cortis and #james on Instagram. Within these digital spaces, fans have developed their own unique rituals and inside jokes that define their community identity. A central piece of this lore involves the "Wasian" visual phenomenon, where netizens initially debated his ethnicity based on his appearance before clarifying his actual heritage as Thai-Chinese. This story has become a defining entry point for new fans learning about James. Another significant chapter in his early career revolves around the MAMA 2025 speech controversy, where his choice to speak only English and Korean sparked intense debate regarding national identity and language politics among Chinese netizens. These events highlight how his fandom actively mobilizes to defend his image and navigate complex cultural conversations. While some rumors about cosmetic procedures persist as unverified folklore, the core group remains fiercely loyal, often rallying to correct misconceptions about his background. The audience segments themselves are diverse, with regional identities influencing how different groups perceive his origins, yet they share a common enthusiasm for his creative contributions and multilingual talents.[edit]

James stands as the first Hong Kong-born idol under BigHit Music and remains the sole full foreign member in the company's current boy-group lineup. He possesses fluency in five languages: Thai, Chinese, Korean, English, and Japanese. His MBTI personality type is INTP, and he carries blood type A. Fans frequently note his deep love for anime, a passion that subtly influences his creative ideas and choreography concepts. The track "GO!" has successfully accumulated over 20 million streams on Spotify, a milestone achieved through his direct involvement in crafting its choreography alongside "JoyRide" from the debut EP. A legendary moment in his short career emerged from the "Wasian" visual phenomenon shortly after his debut, where viral debates about his ethnicity became an instant piece of fandom lore despite him not being mixed-race. Another iconic event occurred at the 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong, where his acceptance speech delivered exclusively in English and Korean triggered a massive online discussion about language choices and political implications. Additionally, early accusations regarding cosmetic procedures following his debut remain a recurring topic of defense within the community, serving as a test of loyalty for fans who must distinguish between baseless rumors and reality.[edit]

James's father is Chinese and his mother is Thai. He was born in Hong Kong and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. No information about siblings is publicly available. He has not shared details about his current household, pets, or family stories. [edit]

James is a member of CORTIS alongside Martin, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. He has written and composed songs for ILLIT and TXT, fellow artists under HYBE/BigHit. He appears in content with BigHit seniors such as RM, j‑hope, and V, reflecting internal label support. [edit]

No confirmed romantic relationships have been publicly reported for James. As typical for K‑pop idols early in their careers, his relationship status is not publicly known. As of 2026, no dating history is documented. [edit]

As of 2026, no credible net‑worth estimates exist for James individually. His income sources include idol salary and profit share from CORTIS activities (album sales, touring, fan meets), songwriting and production royalties from his work on CORTIS tracks and for ILLIT and TXT, and additional compensation for choreography as main dancer. Without published figures, a specific net worth cannot be stated. [edit]

As a member of CORTIS, James shared in group wins at the 10th Asia Artist Awards, 2025 MAMA Awards, and 40th Golden Disc Awards for the debut EP 'Color Outside the Lines' and singles 'What You Want' and 'GO!' No individual awards are documented. [edit]