Imagine a bird flying in the sky with injured feathers , or a girl singing a melodious song without voice, or a person hiking in mountains without legs and a boy singing, dancing and creating music without hearing his own voice, seems impossible doesn’t it ?…….. wake up to the reality, ….. the reality says yes it’s possible, everything is possible by focusing on resilience, determination and ability to find expression beyond physical capabilities with a deep ocean like heart which can absorb all negativity but still looks beautiful under the moonlight.
Maybe some people think that it’s just sugar coated words, nothing like this can happen in reality…. But what if I say I have a live proof in that same industry which feels like family to you, yes iam talking about K-pop. K-pop has always been about more than just music, it’s about movement, emotion, precision, and presence. But what happens when a group takes that idea to the next level and redefines the possibilities and proof that all those sugar coated words can actually be as sweet as sugar in reality by proremoves sound from the equation entirely? Enter Big Ocean, the industry’s first Hard – of – hearing (Deaf ) boy band, and one of the most novel, refreshing acts to hit the K-pop scene in years.
INTRODUCTION OF BIG OCEAN BOY BAND GROUP
Since the 1990s, a cultural phenomenon has been taking place called the Korean Wave or ‘Hallyu’. Marked by a global demand for Korean pop culture, the K-Wave has boomed in the West in recent years. For a lot of fans, this k-pop community feels like a family, and frequently it is expressed that the music they listen to and the groups they love have saved their life, pulled them up from the darkness of their life and helped their mental health wellbeing. This is one of the things that makes Big Ocean’s debut so impactful. As South Korea’s first K-pop group in history to feature members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community, Big Ocean is creating a space in K-pop for Deaf and hard of hearing fans to feel seen, heard and represented. With an Instagram following of almost one million people since their debut in April of 2024, under the inclusive label Parastar Entertainment, Big Ocean – made up of three members Park Hyunjin, Kim Ji-seok and Lee Chan-yeon – doesn’t just defy expectations, they completely reframe them. Big Ocean’s fandom has a special name: PADO (‘파도’), which translates to ‘wave’ in english.
They performed in Korean Sign Language (KSL) with powerful choreography and unmatched visual storytelling, the Forbes30-under-30 Asia trio offers a version of K-pop that’s felt as much as seen. Their debut single “Glow”, dropped on Korea’s National Disabled Persons Day, delivering a bold statement of pride, representation, and visibility.
This isn’t about overcoming disability; it’s about celebrating identity. Big Ocean’s performances are designed to connect beyond auditory boundaries, proving that rhythm, emotion and connection don’t rely on hearing – they rely on feeling. Whether they’re commanding the stage with fluid, dynamic movement or singing lyrics with clarity and intention, Big Ocean is forging a space where accessibility and artistry meet.
THE MEMBER OF BIG OCEAN
BIG-OCEAN, made up of the trio, consisting of three members.This K-pop group is not just making music but rewriting the rulebook of the South Korean entertainment industry. What sets them apart from other groups in the industry, is their resilience, creativity, and their drive to empower others. The members and their fans wholeheartedly believe that talent has no limits and the path to success isn’t always linear, but it’s always worth the ride. So how are BIG OCEAN members and what makes them special? Let’s know about them:
Park Hyun-jin (박현진, born October 24, 1999 and later known by the stage name PJ): PJ, the 25-year-old main vocalist, before joining the group in university years, he was a YouTube content creator who focused on raising awareness about hearing impairment. Afterwards, he was casted in an EBS TV show, where he was introduced to model Kim Jong-wook. Who led him to Parastar Entertainment, and then he took the challenge of becoming a K-pop idol. Hyun-jin, lost his hearing in childhood due to an illness and now uses a cochlear implant in his left ear and a hearing aid in his right. In a recent interview with the Guardian, he shared, “We want people to see us perform and be inspired, with our hearing status as almost a side note.”
Lee Chan-yeon (이찬연, born March 27, 1998): Chanyeon is the oldest member of the group. He is 27 years old. Before joining the group, he worked for four years as an audiologist at Korea University Anam Hospital. There he met Troy Kotsur, an actor with a hearing impairment.His success in the entertainment industry inspired him to pursue a similar path. He lost his hearing during childhood due to illness and underwent cochlear implant surgery in both ears. As he told Dazed newspaper, “Being Deaf is not separate from our creativity – it’s part of it.”
Kim Ji-seok (김지석, born March 5, 2003): Jiseok is 22 years old, he was born deaf and grew up using hearing aids and Korean Sign Language. He was an Alpine skier and a member of the seoul disabled Ski Association. During his school years, RM, the leader of BTS, made a donation to the music program, introducing him to K-pop music and choreography. Inspired by RM, Big Ocean has also donated to multiple schools and colleges. As Jiseok told Rolling Stone, “I wanted to be able to donate to schools so that other students could benefit from music lessons like I did.
THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME OF ‘BIG OCEAN’
The group name Big Ocean was chosen to reflect the desire to spread positivity and joy, just like the vastness of the ocean. Like many K-pop groups, their fans have their own unique name. Big Ocean’s global fanbase is affectionately called “Pado (파도)”, which means “wave” in Korean. The name was actually chosen by their huge international fanbase. And their fan colour? Turquoise blue, to match their marine themes!
For Pado, Big Ocean isn’t just a K-pop group – they represent hope, resilience, and inclusivity. Their fans say that Big Ocean is exactly what the music industry needs in terms of better representation, proving that everyone has a place in music.
Technology use behind the talent
The three members of Big Ocean—Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok—all have varying degrees of hearing loss, so they use a combination of technology and extensive practice to deliver synchronized performances:
- Vibrating Smartwatches: Each member of the group wears a modified smartwatch on their wrist that vibrates in time with the song’s rhythm, helping them feel the beat in pulse.
- Visual Metronomes: During practice, and sometimes live, they use large screens that flash visual cues and numerical displays in time with the music.
- Sign Language and Eye Contact: Beyond technology, the group incorporates Korean Sign Language (KSL) and other international signs seamlessly into their choreography and rely heavily on eye contact and facial expressions to maintain timing and communication during performances.
- AI Voice Technology: To assist with vocal training and enhance pronunciation in their songs (such as for English lyrics), the group utilizes AI voice cloning technology.
- Hearing Devices: Member Chanyeon uses a hybrid hearing device with Bluetooth that streams music directly to his device.
This combination of talent, technology, and teamwork allows Big Ocean to overcome physical limitations and connect with their fans.
DEBUT OF BIG OCEAN:
In March 2024, Parastar Entertainment, a management company representing artists with disabilities, announced the debut of Big Ocean, consisting of the trio who would perform using Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign (IS). The group’s name, Big Ocean, contains the meaning of “surprising the world” and the ambition to “have the potential of the sea and expand to the whole world like the sea”.
According to their agency, the members recorded the songs in their own voices, similar to non-disabled singers. However, some parts of the recording received assistance from artificial intelligence, which learned each member’s voice data to help mix their voices properly. Ji-seok has described artificial intelligence as “another tool and technology we can adapt to art and music. It’s not like we’re attacking the former or traditional music, but it’s just something that adds to it.” Additionally, the group would use smart watches that vibrate to the beat of the music and monitors that flash lights every eight beats to help them stay in rhythm while dancing.
The day before their debut, The chosun llbo shared PJ’s hopes that “Big Ocean will bridge the gap between disabled and non-disabled people, overcoming stereotypes and prejudices.”
On April 20, 2024, Big Ocean began its official activities upon performing on MBC’s Show! Music Core and releasing their debut single “Glow.” Their first single was a remake of the 1998 song “Hope” by the first-generation idol group H.O.T.
In April 2024, fans voted for the name of the fandom, initially choosing the name WAVE. As this fandom name was already in use by another K-pop group, fans voted again, this time between PADO (the Korean word for “wave”), FISHIE, and SALTY. PADO received 70.6% of the vote. On April 24, PJ announced that the fandom would officially be known as PADO.
AWARDS, TOURING AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION
In just a few short months, Big Ocean has already been recognised by Billboard as K-pop’s Rookie of the Month for September 2024. For a group still so new, this is a huge achievement. When Big Ocean hit the music scene in 2024, the World Health Organisation Director-General, Dr Tedros, saluted the band for “breaking barriers and the stigma of disabilities.” He said he hoped their music would “bring hope and inspiration to many others. Recently, Big Ocean won a Special Hallyu Award at the 2024 NEWSIS K-Expo, an event sponsored by Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Seoul Metropolitan Council, Korea Creative Content Agency, and Seoul Tourism Organization. The Hallyu Award is presented to icons who have made outstanding contributions to Hallyu culture (aka the Korean Wave), a testament to Big Ocean’s global influence within the entertainment industry.
On 12 December 2024, The group embarked on their concert on 9 March 2025, at the Toyota City Cultural Hall in Nagoya, Japan and On 12 March 2025, they embarked on their first European tour titled “Underwater” in April 2025, spanning five cities.This EP explores embracing one’s identity and emotions, as part of a more mature concept that contrasts with the “younger concepts” of their earlier work. On May 14, Big Ocean was recognized as one of the breakthrough artists in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Entertainment & Sports List. Additionally, the group performed at Anime Friends 2025 as the only K-pop act on July 3, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
THE BIGGER MISSION OF BIG OCEAN
When asked about the future, they are clear about their vision, they hope to live in the K-pop industry. They want to be known as a group that brings hope, inspiration, and positivity to the world. They said that “through Big Ocean, we want to show that music isn’t limited to what you hear – it lives in movement, emotion and connection. We hope people see that art becomes more powerful when it includes everyone. Being deaf doesn’t mean we’re missing something; it means we experience and express music differently. And that difference can be beautiful. It invites everyone to discover new ways of feeling and understanding music – ways that are just as moving, just as real.”
“We are named Big Ocean because we wish to spread positive energy and hope, just like the peaceful and comfortable feelings that the ocean gives to people,” – Park Hyun-jin (박현진)
Written by – Anjali Gupta
About the author –
Hi! I’m Anjali Gupta, a healthcare student whose interest in healing and well-being naturally led me toward Korean culture — a place where wellness, balance, and tradition beautifully blend with modern living. I enjoy writing simple, emotional, and meaningful pieces that help readers connect with a culture rather than just learn about it.