Lee Ru-ma, stage name Yiruma, (이루마, born February 15 1978, Seoul, South Korea) is a South Korean piano music composer.
His albums are sold all over Asia, as well as the United States and Europe. His most famous pieces include “Kiss the Rain”, “Maybe” and “River Flows in You” (First Love).
Yiruma started to learn the piano at home in Korea at the age of 5. In 1988 he moved to England, and in December 1996 he participated in the album The Musicians of Purcell (Decca). He graduated from Purcell Specialist Music School (London) in July 1997, then from King’s College London in June 2000.
He said “I’m Christian, and I am not a New-age artist. Most people misunderstand me.” Although he formerly held dual citizenship as a citizen of the United Kingdom and South Korea, in July 2006 he gave up his British citizenship and entered the Republic of Korea Navy to begin his military service, which is mandatory for all male South Koreans.
