Profile
- Birth name
- Zhao Yufan (赵雨凡)
- Birthday
- 2005-10-14
- Zodiac
- Libra
- Height
- 178 cm
- Blood type
- A
- MBTI
- INTP
- Nationality
- Chinese
- Position
- —
- Groups
- CORTIS
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About
Short bio
Multilingual dancer and creative powerhouse James of CORTIS is known for his choreography skills, songwriting credits, anime love, and global upbringing that shapes his versatile artistry.
Background
James, born Zhao Yufan, is a Hong Kong-born performer raised in Taiwan who brings international flair and creativity to CORTIS. Of Thai and Chinese heritage, he grew up multilingual and musically inclined, later pursuing training in South Korea. Before debut, he appeared in BigHit’s Trainee A project and continued refining his dance, composition, and choreography skills even after the project ended. His athletic past in taekwondo and ice hockey gave him discipline and stamina, while his passion for music led him to contribute to songs and choreography for major artists. Known for his determination and artistic depth, James stands out as both a performer and creator within the group.
Fun facts
James’s birth name is Zhao Yufan (지우위판), and when his name is read in Korean phonetics it can sometimes be mistaken as Korean, even though he is not.
He was born in Hong Kong and raised in Taiwan, giving him a multicultural upbringing that shaped his global outlook.
James comes from a mixed heritage family, with a Thai mother and a Chinese father, and he is often recognized for his international background.
He attended school in Taiwan before relocating for training, though specific school names have not been publicly disclosed.
His formal trainee journey under BigHit Entertainment began in 2020, after previously training under another company, and he was later revealed as a member of Trainee A in March 2021.
Before debut, he developed strong performance foundations in both dance and athletics, having trained in taekwondo and competitive ice hockey, including time with the Hong Kong Typhoons & Selects program.
His favorite color is black, a tone fans often associate with his sleek and modern fashion style.
He enjoys a wide range of foods, frequently mentioning tteokguk, chicken, pork belly, tteokgalbi, and crispy fried ramen snacks, while also loving chocolate milk and bubble tea.
He especially enjoys desserts, with crème brûlée pudding often listed as a favorite sweet treat.
His publicly recognized strengths include songwriting and composition, and he holds official credits on major releases such as TXT’s “Deja Vu” and ILLIT’s “Magnetic.”
James can play the piano, and he frequently uses music creation as both a hobby and professional skill.
His music taste leans toward pop and emotionally driven tracks, reflected in his audition song “Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes.
He is also known for contributing to choreography creation, including movements for TXT and ILLIT tracks, with producers once using his spontaneous dance for an official performance piece.
His hobbies include watching anime, dancing, and collecting hats, reportedly owning over a hundred of them.
Fans often describe James as focused and determined, someone who believes in seeing tasks through no matter the difficulty.
He is fluent in five languages — English, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Japanese — which further highlights his international versatility.
If asked about personal inspirations, he often emphasizes artistic growth and creative expression rather than a single fixed role model.
James is widely regarded as hard-working, disciplined, and quietly charismatic, building a reputation as both a performer and a behind-the-scenes creator in the industry.
