South Korean pianist and composer
Lee Ru-ma
(
Korean
:
이루마
; born 15 February 1978), better known by his stage name
Yiruma
(Korean:
이루마
), is a
South Korean
pianist and composer.
Early life
[
edit
]
Yiruma was born in Seoul to a pastor. At age five, he began learning the piano and moved to the
United Kingdom
, where he attended the
Purcell School for Young Musicians
[1]
and graduated from
King's College London
.
[2]
Career
[
edit
]
After graduation, Yiruma returned to South Korea and released his debut album,
Love Scene
, in 2001. His breakthrough came when the track "When Love Falls" was used as the theme for
Choi Ji-woo
's character in the hugely popular drama
Winter Sonata
. The surge of interest in his music led to him holding his first solo concert in April 2002.
[3]
He gained wider public recognition for composing the soundtrack of the animation
Doggy Poo
[4]
and performing the piano versions of the soundtracks from the popular 2006 drama
Spring Waltz
.
[5]
After completing his military service, he made his comeback with a nationwide tour spanning twenty different cities and featured
Kim Bum-soo
and
Lee Hyun-woo
as guest singers. On 1 January 2009, he became a
DJ
for
KBS 1FM
Yiruma's Music from All Around the World
.
[6]
Yiruma's 2011 compilation album
The Best: Reminiscent, 10th Anniversary
debuted at number three in the
Billboard
classical charts
in July 2020 and reached number one just two weeks later;
Billboard
's
classical charts had done away with its rules of only counting albums sold in the United States and recognizing albums released in the last eighteen months.
[7]
His music has seen a resurgence in popularity due to the
COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns
in 2020. Several videos of his compositions posted on
YouTube
and other social media platforms have garnered millions of views, including "River Flows in You".
[8]
From 2010 to 2011, Yiruma began presenting the
MBC
music program
Wednesday Art Stage
(需要藝術舞臺) alongside singer
Bobby Kim
. The duo initially raised eyebrows due to their vastly different musical backgrounds and genres and the fact that they had no hosting or presenting experience but their candidness won audiences over.
[9]
[10]
He and Kim returned when the program was revived in 2013 and rebranded as
TV Art Stage
(TV 藝術舞臺). They were joined by actress and former newsreader
Kim Sung-kyung
.
[11]
In 2010, Yiruma filed a civil suit against his then-label Stomp Music to terminate his exclusive contract due to unfair payment percentages, with the judge mediating an agreement that the company should pay 30% of the profits to him. He filed a second lawsuit in 2018 as the company had failed to fulfill the condition. However, Stomp Music appealed the initial trial and the case was brought to the
Supreme Court
. In April 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and ordered the company to pay Yiruma his overdue share of the profits, which had amounted to 2.6 billion won (US$2,200,000) by then.
[12]
[13]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Yiruma previously held British citizenship, which he voluntarily renounced in order to enlist for
mandatory military service
.
[14]
[15]
He enlisted in the
Republic of Korea Navy
in July 2006 and was assigned to public relations duties.
[16]
[17]
He was discharged in August 2008.
[18]
In April 2007, while on leave, Yiruma married his girlfriend Son Hye-im, the older sister of actress and former
Miss Korea
contestant
Son Tae-young
.
[19]
[17]
In 2008, they had a daughter.
[20]
[21]
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
[
edit
]
Compilation and special albums
[
edit
]
Film soundtracks
[
edit
]
Live albums
[
edit
]
- Yiruma: Live at HOAM Art Hall
(2005)
Extended plays
[
edit
]
Singles
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Alumni"
.
Purcell School for Young Musicians
. Retrieved
14 December
2020
.
- ^
Shaw Roberts, Maddy (27 February 2019).
"Yiruma's River Flows in You: from its meaning to its starring role in the Twilight saga"
.
Classic FM
. Retrieved
19 February
2021
.
- ^
"뉴에이지 音樂도 이젠 土種時代"
.
The Dong-a Ilbo
(in Korean). 3 May 2002.
- ^
"
'강아지 똥' 굴러굴러 美國까지"
.
JoongAng Ilbo
(in Korean). 11 March 2004.
- ^
"이루마·러브홀릭, 드라마 '봄의 왈츠' OST 參與"
.
The Hankyoreh
(in Korean).
Yonhap News Agency
. 13 March 2006
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
ay_link (2 January 2009).
"KBS1 93.1FM new radio DJ, Yiruma"
.
Jazzholic
. Archived from
the original
on 22 January 2009
. Retrieved
16 March
2012
.
- ^
Lee, Minhyeong (7 July 2020).
"How Yiruma Made It to the Top of the Classical Albums Chart For 17 Weeks"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"[e글中心] "K-뉴에이지의 始作?" … 이루마 빌보드 클래식 部門 1位"
.
JoongAng Ilbo
(in Korean). 22 May 2020
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"5年만에 復活한 '需要藝術舞臺', 1日 錄畫 進行돼"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
(in Korean). 1 October 2010.
- ^
"[스타 포커스] 바비킴·이루마 "語訥한 MC, 傳統인가봐요…하하"
"
.
The Dong-a Ilbo
(in Korean). 27 January 2011.
- ^
"바비킴, 'TV 藝術舞臺' 進行者로 活躍 "水準높은 公演"
"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
(in Korean). 18 March 2013.
- ^
"[SC焦點]'손태영 兄夫' 이루마, '財産 7兆 루머'인데 勝訴로 '音源 收益金' 26億도 받게 돼"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
(in Korean). 7 April 2024.
- ^
"이루마 大法院서 勝訴…밀린 音源收益金 26億원 받는다"
.
Yonhap News Agency
(in Korean). 7 April 2024.
- ^
"이루마, 英 市民權 抛棄하고 5月 入隊"
(in Korean).
Korean Broadcasting System
. Yonhap News Agency. 26 January 2006
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"피아니스트 이루마 "英國 市民權 抛棄 … 入隊"
"
.
JoongAng Ilbo
(in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 27 January 2006
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"이루마, 海軍 軍樂隊와 送年 公演"
(in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. 27 December 2006
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
a
b
Kang, Young-soo (27 May 2007).
"軍服務 이루마,손혜임과 結婚 "딸 하나만 낳고 싶어요"
"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
(in Korean)
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
Kang, Jeong-hoon (23 August 2008).
"海軍 이루마 除隊 演奏會"
.
The Dong-a Ilbo
(in Korean)
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
"이루마-손태영 언니 미스코리아 結婚"
.
JoongAng Ilbo
(in Korean).
Newsis
. 18 April 2007
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
Kim, Jun-seok (12 December 2013).
"손혜임 結婚 이루마 "妻弟 손태영 보다 아내가 더 예뻐"
"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
(in Korean)
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
Lee, Seul-bi (26 November 2011).
"이루마, 붕어빵 딸 公開 '깜찍해'
"
.
The Dong-a Ilbo
(in Korean)
. Retrieved
2 November
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Album Chart "이루마" Search"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
18 November
2020
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Yiruma Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
18 November
2020
.
- ^
Cumulative sales of
First Love
:
- ^
Cumulative sales of
From the Yellow Room
:
- ^
a
b
"2005年 POP 總決算 音盤 販賣量"
(in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from
the original
on 13 February 2009
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2012年 05月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
Cumulative sales of
Blind Film
:
- "2013年 12月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- "2014年 03月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2015年 10月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2017年 11月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Discographie Yiruma"
.
Austrian Charts
(in German)
. Retrieved
23 November
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Suchen nach "Yiruma"
"
.
Offizielle Deutsche Charts
(in German)
. Retrieved
21 November
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Discographie Yiruma"
.
Swiss Hitparade
(in German)
. Retrieved
23 November
2020
.
- ^
Cumulative sales of
The Best: Reminiscent 10th Anniversary
:
- ^
Cumulative sales of
The Very Best of Yiruma: Yiruma & Piano
:
- "2011年 12月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- "2012年 11月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- "2013年 Album Chart, Page 2"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association.
Archived
from the original on 13 September 2016
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- "2014年 Album Chart, Page 2"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association.
Archived
from the original on 25 August 2016
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- "2015年 10月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2013年 11月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2014年 06月 Album Chart"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean). Korea Music Content Association
. Retrieved
19 November
2020
.
- ^
"2004年 總決算 POP音盤 販賣量"
(in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from
the original
on 13 February 2009
. Retrieved
20 November
2020
.
- ^
"Yiruma"
.
Les Charts
(in French)
. Retrieved
23 November
2020
.
- ^
"Digital Chart "이루마" Search"
.
Gaon Music Chart
(in Korean)
. Retrieved
20 November
2020
.
- ^
"Yiruma - River Flows In You"
.
British Phonographic Industry
. Retrieved
21 November
2020
.
- ^
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank"
.
Bundesverband Musikindustrie
(in German)
. Retrieved
21 November
2020
.
- ^
Cumulative sales of "Kiss the Rain":
External links
[
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]
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