8 facts you didn’t know about Korean-Australian singer DPR Ian

DPR Ian, also known as Christian Yu, born Yu Barom, recently graced the NARS’ 30th-anniversary event in Singapore at ION Orchard on 14 August. And while some may know him for his buttery smooth vocals, and others go crazy over his bad-boy aesthetic, there are still a few out there who aren’t as familiar with the singer despite him being in the industry after more than a decade. He’s a singer, rapper, and director — it seems like there’s nothing he can’t do.

To find out more about the heartthrob himself, keep scrolling.

1. He’s Korean-Australian

Christian Yu was born in Sydney, Australia, but his parents are from South Korea. (P.S. his Korean name is Yu Ba Rom; 유바롬). His multicultural background also means he’s fluent in both English and Korean.

2. He started as a dance YouTuber in Australia

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Back in 2008, when he was only 18 years old, Christian Yu, was uploading videos of him dancing on his own YouTube channel, B Boy B.yu, which you can still find on the platform (above).

Eventually, he decided to move to Korea to chase his dreams. In an interview, he shared that he had no plans to become a K-pop idol, but he was discovered by an entertainment agency on the street. Although he initially struggled with singing, his impressive dance skills won them over during the audition.

3.  He was the leader of Kpop group C-Clown

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In 2012, Ian, made his debut as Rome (taking reference from his Korean name Ba-rom) when he became the leader of the K-pop group C-clown. The group was the first idol group from the entertainment agency Yaedang.

C-Clown gained some international fame but faced significant challenges shortly after the debut, including the sudden death of the agency’s CEO shortly after their debut. Aside from that, the group struggled with some of the contracts, which Ian described as a tough experience. These difficulties, along with discussions starting in 2014, led to the group’s disbandment in 2015, with all members agreeing to the decision.

4. He was one of the founding members of Dream Perfect Regime (DPR)

After leaving C-Clown, Ian decided to work behind the scenes and founded the independent multi-genre music and video group called Dream Perfect Regime (DPR). Based in Seoul, the independent, multi-genre music and video group, comprising DPR LIVE, DPR IAN and DPR CREAM. As a producer, he went by his moniker, DPR Ian, and his label has even helped to produce music videos for music artists on other labels.

5. He’s also a director

The star may have been in the camera during his C-Clown days, but when he started out DPR, Ian decided to make a change. This time, he stepped behind the camera and took on the roles of director and editor for the team’s videos.

6. He’s open about his mental health

DPR Ian has been really honest about his mental health, sharing his struggles with his bipolar disorder openly on his social media (especially on his Instagram Live). By talking about these issues, his openness not only helps break down the stigma around mental health but also offers support and understanding to his fans who might be facing similar battles.

During his treatment, Ian realised that music was an outlet for him to express his feelings. In fact, he sai that bouts of low moods occasionally help him with some of his creative works such as Mito, conceptualised by Ian to explore and better understand the darker version of himself, a character that was born out of his experience with bipolar disorder.

7. He loves laksa

On a lighthearted note, Ian, who recently came to Singapore for the 30th anniversary of NARS, shared during his interaction with his fans that he loves a good hearty bowl of laksa! Unlike many international celebs who have graced our shores, it seems the fans were delighted to learn that Ian enjoys a dish that’s a bit more underrated compared to popular favourites like chilli crab.

8. He’s performing in Singapore this December

If you didn’t manage to catch him at ION Orchard, fret not. The singer will be coming back to Singapore this December for his own concert that’s happening on the 12th of December as part of his Dream Reborn World Tour 2024.  The upcoming world tour, “DPR - The Dream Reborn World Tour 2024”, will feature three artists currently active under the label: DPR ARTIC, DPR CREAM, and DPR IAN.