Yiruma

Lee Ru-ma (; born 15 February 1978), better known by the stage name Yiruma (stylized from Lee Ru-ma), is a South Korean pianist and composer.

Early life Yiruma was born in Seoul. At five years old, he began learning the piano and moved to the United Kingdom, where he attended the Purcell School for Young Musicians and graduated from King's College London.

Career 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. He gained wider public recognition for composing the soundtrack of the animation Doggy Poo and performing the piano versions of the soundtracks from the popular 2006 drama Spring Waltz. 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.

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 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. His music has seen a resurgence in popularity due to the COVID-19 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".

From 2010 to 2011, Yiruma began presenting the MBC music program Wednesday Art Stage 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. He and Kim returned when the program was revived in 2013 and rebranded as TV Art Stage (TV 예술무대). They were joined by actress and former newsreader Kim Sung-kyung.

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$) by then.

Personal life Yiruma previously held British citizenship, which he voluntarily renounced in order to enlist for mandatory military service. He enlisted in the Republic of Korea Navy in July 2006 and was assigned to public relations duties. He was discharged in August 2008.

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.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positions Sales KOR USClass-ical USNew Age From the Yellow Room Released: 22 October 2003 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download 11 — — KOR: 21,438 Poemusic Released: 29 November 2005 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download 97 — — KOR: 17,645 H.I.S. Monologue Released: 2 November 2006 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — — P.N.O.N.I. Released: 21 October 2008 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — — Stay in Memory Released: 24 May 2012 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download 11 — — KOR: 3,813 Blind Film Released: 8 October 2013 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download 15 — — KOR: 4,287 Piano Released: 23 September 2015 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download 23 — — KOR: 745 Frame Released: 1 November 2017 Repackaged: 19 December 2019 Label: Mind Tailor Music Format: CD, digital download 36 — — KOR: 1,181

Compilation and special albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positions Sales AUT GER KOR USClass-ical The Very Best of Yiruma: Yiruma & Piano Released: 30 November 2011 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — 8 — — — KOR: 29,426 The Very Best of Yiruma: River Flows in You Released: 2 December 2011 Label: Stomp Music, B1 Format: CD, digital download 72 29 — 84 — —Healing Piano Released: 6 November 2013 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — 28 — — — KOR: 831 Atmosfera Released: 25 June 2014 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download — — 19 — — — KOR: 827 Piano Serenade Released: 27 November 2014 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — — — — —The First Special Moment with Your Baby Released: 12 March 2015 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — 34 — — —Yiruma: The Best Winter Released: 10 November 2016 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — — — — — —The Rewritten MemoriesReleased: 25 Mar 2021 Label: Mind Tailor Music Format: CD, digital download

Film soundtracks

Oasis and Yiruma (2002) Doggy Poo OST (2002)

Live albums Yiruma: Live at HOAM Art Hall (2005)

Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Movement on a Theme by Yiruma Released: 13 October 2009 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — Movement on a Theme by Yiruma: 2nd Movement Released: 2 December 2009 Label: Stomp Music Format: CD, digital download — Room with a View Released: 22 May 2020 Label: Mind Tailor Music Format: CD, digital download 90

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album KOR AUT GER BVMI: Platinum First Love / River Flows in You single album (2011)"Kiss the Rain" 2003 — — — — — From the Yellow Room"Nocturnal Lights... They Scatter" 2004 — — — — —Nocturnal Lights... They Scatter"Wonder Boy" 2005 — — — — — Poemusic"Lord... Hold My Hand" 2006 — — — — —H.I.S. Monologue"Loanna" 2008 — — — — —P.N.O.N.I."River Flows in You" 2009 91 — — — —Movement on a Theme by Yiruma"To My Heart" — — — — —Movement on a Theme by Yiruma: 2nd Movement"Kiss the Rain" 2012 9 — — — — KOR: 550,203 "Stay in Memory" — — — — —Stay in Memory"Blind Film" 2013 — — — — —Blind Film"Dance" 2015 — — — — —Piano"Sick of You" 2017 — — — — — "Flower" — — — — —Frame"Framed" (String Version) — — — — —"Couldn't Put in Words" 2018 — — — — —The Way You Keep Friendship – SSaW Tribute Vol.5"Room with a View"2020 — — — — —Room with a View"Sunset Bird" — — — — —"Darling" — — — — —