Advertisement

Meet Big Ocean, the first deaf K-pop idol group, and find out how they make music

The boy band already have three singles to their credit and attracted the praise of WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
(From left) Kim Ji-seok, Park Hyun-jin and Lee Chan-yeon of Big Ocean. The deaf boy band are breaking new ground as K-pop’s first idol group with hearing loss. Photo: Courtesy of Parastar Entertainment

By Pyo Kyung-min

Advertisement

In the dynamic world of K-pop, new idol groups are frequently hailed as unique or exceptional. Big Ocean, a boy band who debuted in April, truly live up to these claims.

The trio – Park Hyun-jin, Lee Chan-yeon and Kim Ji-seok – are making waves not only for their music but also for breaking new ground as K-pop’s first idol group with hearing loss.

When the group debuted on April 20, coinciding with Korea’s Day of People with Disabilities, many questioned whether a deaf group could thrive in the music industry.

(From left) Kim Ji-seok, Park Hyun-jin and Lee Chan-yeon of Big Ocean. The three members all have different levels of hearing ability. Photo: Courtesy of Parastar Entertainment
(From left) Kim Ji-seok, Park Hyun-jin and Lee Chan-yeon of Big Ocean. The three members all have different levels of hearing ability. Photo: Courtesy of Parastar Entertainment

However, Big Ocean have defied the scepticism, evolving into a fully fledged K-pop group with three singles already to their credit.

Advertisement
Advertisement