Over the last decade, K-pop has taken the world by storm. Famous for their catchy choruses, intense choreography, and iconic fashion, K-pop groups have set a standard in the global music industry. But one new group has broken from the mold completely.
The new K-pop group, Big Ocean, has become the first Korean pop group to be comprised of deaf band members. The three members, Lee Chan-Yeon, Park Hyun-Jin, and Kim Ji-Seok, are all hearing-impaired. Member Kim Ji-Seok was born deaf, while members Park Hyun-Jin and Lee Chan-Yeon both lost their hearing as children. The group's name holds significance to the trio, with member Park Hyun-Jin explaining in an interview with The World that, “[w]hen you see a big ocean, you feel peaceful and comfortable. We want to spread hope and positive energy to everyone like a Big Ocean.” Though the three never imagined themselves as K-pop idols, much less in any career path involving music, they are excited to become a first in K-pop history.
The trio debuted this past April 20th, 2024, on Disabled Persons Day in South Korea. From the beginning, the three have wanted to shed light on living as a disabled person, especially in South Korea. Lee Chan-Yeon stated in an interview with KOREA NOW that “[t]he word ‘disability’ itself or having a disability is not perceived that positively in Korean society, so I was a bit worried, but we’re working hard to break the stereotype.” Despite the negative stigma surrounding the term “disabled,” the three have worked hard to prove that even those with disabilities are able to achieve their dreams. Hyun-Jin stated that “being brave is the most important. Rather than focusing on my disability, I think it’s a matter of self-esteem,” encouraging others to “have courage… Just do everything you want to do.” Thanks to advancements in recent technology, the trio is able to do just that.
Using vibrating watches and phones, as well as physical cues, the three have quickly picked up learning different choreography despite having difficulties hearing the music. “We have slightly different levels of hearing, so it was really hard for us to synchronize with each other when singing or dancing,” Kim Ji-Seok explained, going on to explain that they had to feel the synchronized vibrations through their phones or special watches “to get the rhythms and timings in our bodies.” Dance is a major part of a K-pop act’s success. Songs often go viral for their complex and eye-catching moves. Big Ocean has taken the concept of K-pop choreography one step further, and included sign language into their routines. They are pioneering a “new genre that combines sign language and dance,” says Hyun-Jin. He expressed the group’s uncertainty on this new path that “others haven’t tried before.” Though being pioneers in the K-pop community is daunting, these three are carving out a more inclusive future with exceptional passion.
As K-pop has become increasingly popular through the years, the expectations surrounding K-pop groups have risen. Singing, especially live, has become the standard measure for fans to determine how strong a K-pop act is. For Big Ocean, learning how to sing on-pitch together was one of their biggest struggles. Since the trio have trouble hearing themselves, they often have to sing with a tuner in front of them in order to know they’re all on pitch. Ji-Seok mentioned that when recording songs, he had to “look across the glass door and catch the hand signals to get the timing right.” While the trio uses physical cues to correct their timing, they also use AI voice technology during audio mixing in order to ensure that they’re both on pitch individually, as well as with each other. It’s obvious that despite the numerous difficulties they’ve had along the way, Big Ocean isn’t letting anything stop them from achieving their goals as a team.
As a hard-of-hearing individual in the process of getting my own hearing aids and as a longtime fan of K-pop, Big Ocean’s debut is music to my (deaf) ears and an inspiration to thousands of others like myself. Even in western culture, there is still heavy stigma surrounding people with disabilities. Those who struggle with invisible disabilities, such as hearing loss or mental health issues, often can feel isolated and ignored. Since these types of disabilities can’t be seen by others, people with invisible disabilities often are not given the same amount of grace or understanding that may be given to those with visible disabilities. Big Ocean’s debut has sparked critical conversations surrounding disabled individuals, and their ability to exist within the ever-demanding music & entertainment industries.
As I dove into more of the group’s interviews, I felt validated to know that the struggles I encounter in my everyday life are similar to their own struggles. In an interview with All K-Pop, Ji-Seok remembers a particularly difficult experience in preparing for college. “There was no separate interview for people with hearing impairments… because I couldn’t hear well, I didn’t talk much and I messed up my interview. I couldn’t show myself fully.” People with hearing impairments often feel isolated in social situations due to having difficulty following conversations. For many, it’s easier to just stay quiet than to try and follow the flow of a conversation that’s barely audible. It’s understandably annoying to be asked to repeat yourself in a conversation. However, even though it’s frustrating to not be heard, it’s even more frustrating to not hear others at all. Many individuals with hearing impairments feel that their disability strips them of their voice altogether, but Big Ocean encourages their fans to embrace their differences, expressing their own unique voices through their music. The group has become a beacon of hope, not just for those with hearing impairments, but for disabled people everywhere who dream of making it in the music industry. While talking about career aspirations, Ji-Seok mentioned that, “[i]f I ever get to have a fan meeting one day, it would really feel special if I could communicate with fans using sign language.” When possible future tours were mentioned, he went on to say that “[i]f we get to hold concerts in different countries, I would love to have the opportunity to learn the sign language of each country” in order to better communicate with international fans. As Hyun-Jin states, the trio hopes to “make a barrier-free world where non-disabled people and people with disabilities can coexist harmoniously,” because ultimately, despite our differences, we are all just fish in the same big ocean.
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