Rising K-pop boy group CORTIS is once again making headlines, but this time it’s not for their performances or charts. A recent revelation about member JAMES (Zhao Yufan) has sparked excitement among Taiwanese fans, as Pandora Music’s official documentation confirms that his hometown is “Taipei”marking the first time its origin was explicitly acknowledged in public records.
Cortis member James
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The news quickly went viral among fans in Taiwan, with many celebrating the moment on social media. Some have hailed him as a proud moment for Taiwanese representation in K-popwhile others expressed excitement about its growing importance both locally and globally.
Since its debut in August 2025, CORTIS – composed of 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 achieved the “Best New Artist“award to MAMA Awardshas amassed over 7.4 million followers on Instagram and has surpassed 200 million total streams on Spotify.
James – Zhao Yufan, the eldest of the group, has constantly attracted attention for his unique background and warm demeanor on stage. 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’ early concert experiences and artistic inspirations. Zhao cited BIGBANG as the first concert he attended, and gave credit for it “everyone” as a source of creative inspiration: highlighting his broad appreciation for people and experiences. His bandmates have cited artists such as BTS, TXT, SUGA and Radiohead among their influences.
Even outside of the typical fanbase, CORTIS fever is spreading quickly. Taiwanese actor Kai Ko previously revealed himself as proud COER: the official name of the fandom— sparking a wave of celebrity supporters.
Sources: Yahoo News
