CORTIS, a South Korean K-pop boy group, is one of the most successful and influential fifth-generation acts under BigHit Music, known for their self-produced sound, creative autonomy, powerful performances, and boundary-pushing concepts.
Formed in Seoul, the five-member lineup James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho rose to global attention in 2025 with music that celebrates freedom, individuality, and artistic expression beyond conventional limits.
Quick Facts
- Members: James (Zhao Yufan), Kim Ju-hoon, Martin Edwards Park, Eom Sung-hyun, Ahn Geon-ho
- Stage Name: CORTIS
- Origin: Seoul, South Korea
- Active: 2025–present
- Nationality: South Korean with mixed heritage for some members
- Occupation: Singers, Songwriters, Producers, Performers, Choreographers
- Net Worth: $2 million
Early Life and Members
CORTIS began as a carefully assembled “young creator crew” under BigHit Music, with members selected for their individual creative strengths in songwriting, production, dance, and performance.
The group was developed with an emphasis on member involvement rather than traditional fixed positions. The five-member lineup is the only version to date.
James
- Date of Birth: October 14, 2005
- Age: 20 years old
- Place of Birth: Hong Kong raised with Thai-Taiwanese connections
- Ethnicity: Thai-Chinese
- Religion: Buddhism
- Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Yufan
- Siblings: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Early Life: James trained extensively under BigHit, including the Trainee A project, and gained experience co-writing and performing prior to debut. Multilingual and skilled in dance and martial arts taekwondo black belt, he contributes strongly to creative direction, choreography, and performance. His leadership in ideas and stage presence became a key part of the group’s identity.
Juhoon
- Date of Birth: January 3, 2008
- Age: 18 years old
- Place of Birth: Seoul, South Korea
- Ethnicity: Korean
- Religion: Buddhism
- Parents: N/A
- Siblings: N/A
- Education: local schools including Young Hoon International Middle School
- Early Life: Juhoon was a child model and basketball player before joining BigHit as a trainee. Known for his smooth vocals, visual appeal, and language ability, he brings a balanced presence to the group and contributes to vocal and performance elements.
Martin
- Date of Birth: March 20, 2008
- Age: 18 years old
- Place of Birth: Canada
- Ethnicity: Canadian-Korean
- Religion: Christian
- Parents: N/A
- Siblings: N/A
- Education: Seoul Joongdae Elementary School and further training
- Early Life: Martin (Korean name Park Woo-joo) grew up with a dual Canadian-Korean background and developed skills in production and songwriting early. He previously contributed to tracks for other HYBE artists. As group leader, his tall stature, creative input in choreography and music, and production role became central to CORTIS‘s identity as a creator-driven act.
Seonghyeon
- Date of Birth: January 13, 2009
- Age: 17 years old
- Place of Birth: Daejeon, South Korea
- Ethnicity: Korean
- Religion: Buddhism
- Parents: N/A
- Siblings: N/A
- Education: local schools including Daejeon Gwanjeo Elementary School
- Early Life: Seonghyeon joined the agency at a young age and developed strong skills in vocals, dance, and rap. His warm presence and storytelling approach through music help ground the group’s creative output.
Keonho
- Date of Birth: February 14, 2009
- Age: 17 years old
- Place of Birth: Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Ethnicity: Korean
- Religion: Buddhism
- Parents: N/A
- Siblings: N/A
- Education: local schools including periods at Chonggye Middle School
- Early Life: Keonho was a competitive swimmer ranked highly in South Korea before becoming a trainee. As the youngest member (maknae), he contributes energetically as a vocalist, dancer, and rapper, bringing a dynamic and multifaceted presence to the group.
Formation
The group was formed by BigHit Music, HYBE subsidiary, home of BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, as their third boy group and first in six years.
Plans were announced in 2025 for a next-generation “creator crew.” Members were officially revealed in July 2025, the name CORTIS derived from “Color Outside the Lines,” and social accounts launched in early August.
They debuted on August 18, 2025, after a pre-debut track, solidifying the five-member lineup from the start with no major changes.
Career
CORTIS debuted with the digital single “What You Want” on August 18, 2025, preceded by the pre-release “Go!“. Their first EP, Color Outside the Lines (September 2025), became a major commercial success, debuting at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, topping Korean charts, setting first-day sales records, and surpassing two million cumulative sales.
Their 2026 releases included the pre-release single “RedRed,” which reached No. 1 on the Circle Digital Chart, and the second EP GreenGreen (May 2026), which also achieved strong sales and chart performance.
The group has earned multiple rookie awards at the 2025 MAMA Awards, Asia Artist Awards, and Golden Disc Awards, performed at high-profile events, and built a reputation for member-driven creativity, genre-blending hip-hop, punk-pop influences, and fashion presence. They continue to expand with live activities and global reach.
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @cortis_bighit, @cortis
- YouTube Channel: CORTIS
Personal Life
James
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Relationship: N/A
Juhoon
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (176 cm)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Relationship: N/A
Martin
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (193 cm)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Relationship: N/A
Seonghyeon
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Relationship: N/A
Keonho
- Relationship: N/A
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
Net Worth
CORTIS has an estimated combined net worth of $2 million USD. The group’s income is generated from album sales, music streaming, live performances, concert tours, brand endorsements, merchandise sales, digital content, and other entertainment activities.
Since their successful debut, CORTIS has continued to expand its presence in the global music industry, contributing to its growing financial success.
Discography
- Color Outside the Lines (2025)
- GreenGreen (2026)