Big Ocean can’t hear their music -- but the world is listening

Just because you can't hear doesn't mean you can't sing.

Big Ocean, the world's first deaf idol group, is proof of this. Overseas, they've been described as “breaking the barriers of K-pop." It's not just because they are deaf singers. Their musicality is also in the spotlight. Big Ocean was named to Forbes' “30 Under 30” list in the U.S. It's been a year since their debut. Big Ocean is making history in the music industry.

All three members of Big Ocean are deaf. Jiseok (Kim Ji-seok) was born deaf, while Chanyeon (Lee Chan-yeon) and PJ (Park Hyun-jin) lost their hearing as children due to a high fever. Jiseok is a disabled alpine skier, and Chanyeon is an audiologist who helps with hearing rehabilitation at Korea University Anam Hospital. PJ became a YouTuber and worked to raise awareness of deafness.

Music is what brought them together despite their different paths. Jiseok became an idol group trainee through “Runway,” a barrier-free event organized by his current agency, Parastar Entertainment. Chanyeon joined the group as a trainee after being invited to an event where Korea University Anam Hospital appointed deaf actor Troy Kotsur as its ambassador. PJ made a video about misconceptions and prejudices against deafness, which led to her appearances on EBS and caught the agency's attention.

Their debut as an idol group was also a continuation of breaking the mold. People with hearing impairments detect beats and rhythms through vibrations rather than sound. They are helped by installing speakers (subwoofers) on the stage floor that transmit vibrations or by wearing vibrating smartwatches. They can also utilize a light metronome that flashes timing cues. They practice their songs with vocal trainers and other professionals to ensure they hit the right notes and pronunciation. Their agency, Parastar Entertainment, supports the process. Parastar Entertainment is an entertainment company that supports artists with disabilities in entering pop culture.

Big Ocean completes their performances by practicing "seeing the sound with their eyes and feeling it with their bodies.” Through this, they convey the message that “disability is an identity, not a limitation.” Big Ocean members Chanyeon, PJ, and Jiseok emphasized in an interview with Korea Biomedical Review that “difference is not a disability, but another possibility and experience.” Big Ocean will share their experience at the Hospital Innovation and Patient Experience Conference (HiPex) 2025. HiPex 2025 will be held at the Severance Hospital from Wednesday to Friday. Big Ocean will take the stage on the final day.

KBR: You were named to Forbes' “30 Under 30” list. This came just one year after your debut.

Chanyeon: I'm happy to realize that Big Ocean is loved worldwide. We will continue to work harder and with good songs in the future.

PJ: Honestly, we still can't believe it. We were doing what we love to the best of our ability, and it seems to have resonated so much, so we're overwhelmed and grateful. It's a moment that shows us that our path can be a meaningful signal to someone. We want to continue to tell stories that can cross boundaries and touch hearts in our way.

Jiseok: We will become better artists who can take responsibility for the public's attention and give back instead of just receiving undeserved love.

KBR: Do you have any goals for Big Ocean beyond being the world's first deaf idol group?

Chanyeon: I want to support more people's dreams and hopes and spread positive energy so that everyone can think, “It's a little difficult, but I can do it,” instead of “I'm impossible.”

PJ: We were initially recognized as “special,” but we want to be remembered as a team that touches hearts with our music. We have a slightly different way of hearing the world. Still, we're more honest and fierce than anyone else regarding feeling and expressing emotions. If when someone thinks of the name Big Ocean, they think of a team that transcends genres and boundaries, that's enough for me.

Jiseok: We want to be a group that empowers people worldwide to realize any goal.

KBR: You've shown people who say a deaf person can't be a dance singer that it's not. Do you feel like you've seen a change in social perception over the past year?

PJ: I feel it. At first, many people were like, “Is it possible?” but now it's changing to “How is this possible?” I think that change itself is a movement in social awareness.

Jiseok: I often hear people say that Big Ocean has given them motivation or drive. Many people are changing little by little through our activities rather than words.

KBR: What do you think is essential in showing people they can be on stage even with a disability?

Chanyeon: The confidence to say, "I'm going to show what I can do. It's essential to showcase the talent that everyone has in them in different ways rather than letting the obstacles of disability stop them.

PJ: It's the belief that you can do it and the consistent practice of proving it. The stage is ultimately a place where you convince the audience with sincerity and hard work.

Jiseok: It's your mindset. Expressing yourself without being conscious of what others think of you is essential.

KBR: Big Ocean sees and feels vibrations and visual cues instead of hearing sounds to complete the stage. What was the most challenging part?

PJ: We all have different levels of hearing and different ways of perceiving beats, so communication was the most important thing. Aids such as vibrating watches and light metronomes helped us a lot. Still, in the end, we couldn't rely on them on stage, so we practiced in front of the mirror repeatedly to make sure we had eye contact with each other and to master the timing of the choreography. We also shared the beats we felt aloud and adjusted our senses to “feel” the rhythm instead of “hearing” it. This process made the Big Ocean performance possible.

KBR: There must have been a lot of hard work to achieve perfect teamwork.

Chanyeon: We have developed teamwork through various situations, starting with training camps. Each of us is good at something, so we try to fill in the gaps of the other members, which has dramatically improved our teamwork.

PJ: We communicate with our eyes, facial expressions, and gestures rather than words. Even a small gesture becomes a conversation, and trusting each other has been the key to teamwork. As time goes by, it becomes a unified whole.

Jiseok: We talk a lot when we practice and make promises to each other. When we dance together, I take the lead. We must try to be in sync with each other.

KBR: What's the most memorable stage you've performed since your debut?

Chanyeon: During our recent European tour, the stage in Paris was the most memorable. When we visited Paris last year, a 73-year-old “Fado” (Big Ocean's fandom name) member missed the fan meeting due to a mistake in the date, but he sent us a message saying that we should meet again as soon as possible. When we returned to Paris, he asked us, “Do you remember me?” We all recognized each other at once. It was touching that he watched our performance and responded so well to us despite his age. I remember an overseas fan saying, “Even if I'm far away, I'll always be there in my heart.”

PJ: The European tour at the end of April this year was the most memorable. For two weeks, I could fully feel the emotions and love of so many waves of fans. In particular, I will never forget when a fan was crying and singing along to my solo song “Sinking” on stage. When I saw that, I wanted to get off the stage and wipe her tears myself, but instead, she said, “I'll be by your side.” It was a very emotional moment for me because I felt like I had to leave the love of my fans behind. There are some words that I often hear on stage, such as "You are my life and sunshine. Never give up, and keep going. Never give up, and keep going. I'm so proud of you, it was particularly memorable because we could feel that beyond just cheering, our very existence was a great comfort and strength to someone. These words are what drive us to keep going on stage.

Jiseok: We returned with our second album and met our fans with a different concept from our first album. We were so happy that they liked our hard work. I still remember every single one of them cheering and enjoying themselves. I also remember a fan thanking us for making her feel the joy of music through Big Ocean, even though she wasn't interested in music in the first place. It gives me strength to hear that our music helps them live.

KBR: Chanyeon went from being an audiologist who “presented” sound to patients to an artist who “expressed” sound on stage. What did that transition mean to you?

Chanyeon: Your question captures why I chose my profession. I chose my profession because I wanted others to feel the joy I felt listening to it. Now, I'm an artist who shows how to express the sounds I hear. I wanted a medium of empathy through expressing, sharing, and enjoying music together.

KBR: What would you like to say to aspiring singers or trainees with disabilities?

Chanyeon: I hope you see, hear, feel, and experience many things. You'll reach your dreams one day if you never lower your self-worth.

PJ: I hope you don't define your possibilities and limits by other people's standards. You must go after your dreams in your way and at your own pace. Above all, hard work will never betray you, and we are proving that. Let's fight together!

Jiseok: I hope you can hang in there even if it's hard. I hope you don't relinquish your dreams because of a momentary setback. I'll be waiting for you. See you on stage!

Q: People with hearing impairments often struggle to enjoy performances and content. What technological changes are needed to create a “barrier-free performance environment” in the future?

Chanyeon: I perceive stimuli through my eyes first, so it would be great to add visual elements such as accurate subtitles of the song's lyrics or sign language interpreters.

PJ: Technologies like real-time subtitles, sign language interpretation, vibration systems, and visual metronomes should be more widely available. It is essential to have an environment where everyone can feel and enjoy the exact moment together.

Jiseok: We need to understand each other's perspectives. Even a small understanding will make a big difference.

KBR: What more must be done to move the K-pop industry toward an “inclusive culture” where people with disabilities can enjoy and participate?

PJ: Technical approaches alone are insufficient; we need a welcoming attitude towards diversity. The first step is a more open structure in the rehearsal system or stage production.

Jiseok: If we can do something more and showcase it, it will have an excellent impact, but there will be a lot of new opportunities for Big Ocean just by continuing to move forward.

KBR: Do you have a message for HiPex 2025?

Chanyeon: Each individual has different ideas, and it may take time to understand each other. However, even with a small step, a world where we can be happy with each other begins to unfold. I hope that this stage will be a time to share each other's positions and experiences, such as ‘How would I endure if I had a disability, or How would I live if I didn't have a disability.’

PJ: The HiPex philosophy aligns with the direction of our team, and I hope to convey the message on stage that difference is not a disability but another possibility and experience.

Jiseok: Everyone is doing their part, and it's great that you guys don't give up. I hope you continue to hold on like a solid rock that won't crumble.

KBR: Understanding the “otherness” of healthcare providers and patients is often said to be vital to the patient experience. What message do you think Big Ocean's stage can send?

Chanyeon: I hope that the stage at Big Ocean is a starting point for understanding and respecting each other's differences. It should make people think twice about what they can give to each other in a win-win situation.

PJ: We are all different, and differences can be unique possibilities. Understanding each other and sharing our hearts will eventually lead to a better experience and a society that can grow. If we can bring that to the stage, that means a lot.

Jiseok: Big Ocean doesn't look “different from the outside,” but it's different when you realize what kind of group we are. We hope that how we perform on stage will give someone the courage to pursue their dreams.