Yiruma (born Lee Ru-ma) is a South Korean pianist and composer who began piano studies at age five, later trained at the Purcell School for Young Musicians in the UK, and graduated from King’s College London in composition. He released his debut album Love Scene in 2001 and gained wide recognition when his compositions were featured in the Korean television drama Winter Sonata and other soundtracks. His signature piece, “River Flows in You,” became a global crossover phenomenon, especially on social media and streaming platforms, and his 2011 anniversary compilation reached number one on Billboard’s classical chart.

Yiruma is one of the most widely streamed and recognized composers of contemporary instrumental piano music worldwide, credited with popularizing an accessible “new age”/light-classical piano style for a global, largely non-classical audience and inspiring a generation of self-taught pianists online.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiruma