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Big Ocean made history as the first K-pop group composed entirely of deaf and hard-of-hearing artists when they debuted on April 20, 2024, representing a groundbreaking moment for accessibility and inclusion in the competitive industry.
The group consists of members Park Hyunjin (stage name PJ), Lee Chanyeon, and Kim Jiseok, all of whom have varying degrees of hearing loss. Hyunjin began losing his hearing when he was three years old after a high fever and now uses a cochlear implant in his left ear and a hearing aid in his right.
Chanyeon lost his hearing at 11 years old and received bilateral cochlear implants. Jiseok was born with hearing impairments and relies on hearing aids along with Korean Sign Language for communication.
Before pursuing music careers, the members led diverse professional lives that had nothing to do with entertainment. Hyunjin worked as a YouTuber educating viewers about hearing disabilities. Chanyeon served as an audiologist at Korea University Anam Hospital. Jiseok competed as a professional alpine skier on the Seoul Para Ski Team.
Big Ocean operates under Parastar Entertainment, the first Korean entertainment company specifically designed to nurture artists with disabilities. The group trained for a year and a half, learning singing, dancing, and acting while also mastering Korean Sign Language, American Sign Language, and International Sign Language.
Their debut single "Glow" is a remake of the 1998 hit "Hope" by legendary first-generation K-pop group H.O.T. The timing of the group's debut coincided with South Korea's Day of People with Disabilities, emphasizing a mission to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
To overcome the challenges of performing music with hearing impairments, Big Ocean relies on innovative technology rarely seen in K-pop. Members wear modified vibrating smartwatches that pulse rhythmic cues to their wrists during performances. They practice with LED visual metronomes that flash timing signals on monitors to help them stay synchronized. The group also uses artificial intelligence voice conversion technology to support vocal training and enhance audio output after recordings.
Their performances seamlessly blend traditional K-pop choreography with sign language, creating a unique artistic identity. When one member signs in the center, the others adjust their dance moves to maintain focus on the signing while ensuring the message remains clear.
Big Ocean has gained significant international recognition, recently completing their first European tour and earning a spot on Billboard's K-Pop Rookie of the Month. Their fanbase, known as "Pado" (meaning "wave" in Korean), has shown remarkable dedication by learning sign language to better communicate with the group. The trio recently received recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 List in the Entertainment and Sports category.
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