Big Ocean harmoniously blends music and sign language, captivating fans globally through their unique talent and inspiring journey as they redefine representation in the K-Pop industry.
Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Sign Language in K-Pop
Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Sign Language in K-Pop
Big Ocean, the groundbreaking K-Pop boy band composed of deaf and hard of hearing members, takes the world by storm with their innovative approach to music and performance.
Big Ocean, a revolutionary K-Pop boy band made up of deaf and hard of hearing members, is captivating audiences worldwide with their unique combination of singing and signing. Consisting of Lee Chan-yeon, 27, Park Hyun-jin, 25, and Kim Ji-seok, 22, the trio uses cutting-edge audio technology to create their music, coordinate choreography with flashing metronomes and vibrating watches, and seamlessly integrate Korean Sign Language (KSL) into their performances.
"As divers communicate with hand signals underwater, we utilize sign language to express emotions where sound can't completely convey our message," explained Mr. Lee. "KSL is not merely an accessory; it is the essence of our artistry."
The group's journey began last year with the release of their debut single, "Glow," coinciding with Korea's Day of People with Disabilities. The public’s excitement peaked following their first televised performance integrating KSL, which garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. They soon followed with "Blow," incorporating extensive English lyrics and American Sign Language.
September brought further recognition as Big Ocean was named Billboard's rookie group of the month, along with a feature in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia Entertainment & Sports List. Their global presence has expanded, with recent performances at an anime festival in Brazil and a United Nations tech event in Switzerland, and an upcoming American tour starting in late July.
Big Ocean’s online fanbase is growing rapidly, boasting 995,000 Instagram followers and more than 696,000 on TikTok. Their dedicated fans, affectionately referred to as “Pados” (meaning waves in Korean), engage deeply with the band, many even learning sign language through the tutorials that Big Ocean shares. The band continues to set trends and break down barriers in the music industry, proving that art transcends sound.
