Introduction of Big Ocean
On April 20th, coinciding with Disability Day, South Korea will witness the debut of its first K-pop idol group composed entirely of deaf members. The trio, named ‘Big Ocean,’ consists of rapper Lee Chan-yeon (26), main vocalist Park Hyun-jin (25), and rapper Kim Ji-seok (21). Their agency, Parasta Entertainment, is also the nation’s first entertainment company specializing in representing disabled artists.
Overcoming Unique Challenges
Each member of Big Ocean lost their hearing at different stages in their lives. Kim Ji-seok was born deaf, Park Hyun-jin lost his hearing at the age of three, and Lee Chan-yeon became deaf at 18. Despite these challenges, they mastered lip-reading and use cochlear implants and hearing aids to communicate effectively. They also learned Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign Language (ISL) in preparation for their debut, though this led to criticism when they appeared less proficient in sign language in their introductory videos.
Career Changes and Public Perception
Before pursuing a career in music, each member had a stable job. Lee Chan-yeon was an audiologist at Korea University Anam Hospital, Kim Ji-seok was a player for the Seoul Disabled Ski Association, and Park Hyun-jin was a popular YouTuber creating content about the daily lives of people with disabilities. Despite receiving advice to maintain their stable careers, they decided to chase their dreams and step out of societal expectations. Kim Ji-seok shared, “I often heard that being a deaf person, I should pursue physical work or learn a technical skill. This caused much contemplation and distress, but I believed that choosing a career I truly love would prevent me from feeling empty.”
Rigorous Training and Innovative Techniques
Training for two years as trainees was a tough challenge for Big Ocean. Main vocalist Park Hyun-jin used a mobile app to measure pitch and relied on the sensation of muscle movements rather than sound. They recorded their songs with the aid of AI technology that corrected their voices. Dancing posed another challenge as they struggled with keeping time. They utilized smartwatches that vibrated to the beat and monitors that flashed lights in sync with the music’s rhythm. They also practiced at local music festivals to adapt to noisy environments and repeatedly watched televised music shows on YouTube to memorize camera positions and stage layouts.
Debut and Future Goals
Big Ocean’s debut song is a remake of H.O.T’s classic ‘Hope.’ The choreography integrates sign language, creating a unique performance. Park Hyun-jin expressed his aspirations, saying, “We hope that, like our name Big Ocean, our activities will become a vast sea that transcends the boundaries and prejudices between disabled and non-disabled people. Our goal is to hear people say, ‘I thought they were just a regular idol group, but they have disabilities. They’re still amazing.’”
Big Ocean is set to make waves in the K-pop industry, demonstrating that passion and determination can overcome any obstacle. Their story is a testament to breaking barriers and pursuing dreams regardless of challenges.
Reference: https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/023/0003829248?sid=103
