여러분, 안녕! 잘 지내서?
As a K-Pop fan from the second generation, I’ve seen a lot of changes in the concepts of boy and girl groups that have popped up over the years. Especially with how fast times are changing now, there are so many unique concepts being used for K-Pop groups, like AESPA for example.
Speaking of how times are changing, you guys probably already know that more and more people are becoming aware of inclusivity, right? From clothing to makeup, social media trends, everything’s starting to support the inclusivity movement—even the Korean music industry.
Yep, that's right! You might be surprised by the topic I’m about to talk about. It’s no secret that the beauty standards in the Korean entertainment industry used to be crazy high! But now, it’s starting to get more inclusive with idols and artists confidently showing off their unique features, like rocking a tan or having a curvy body.
Meet Big Ocean
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
This three-member K-Pop boy band is the first of its kind in South Korea, with all of its members having hearing impairments. Signed under Parastar Entertainment, Big Ocean made their debut on April 20, 2024, with the song Glow, which is a remake of the H.O.T track.
Parastar Entertainment is known for focusing on training artists with disabilities, and Big Ocean’s debut happened to fall on National Disability Day in Korea.
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| Photo: South China Morning Post |
To help the members of Big Ocean perform at their best, they use a range of technologies, from digital tuners to check pitch, AI sound technology to mix audio, special wristwatches that vibrate with each beat, to metronomes that help keep time on stage.
This inclusive group isn’t just here to shake up the K-Pop scene, they’re also breaking boundaries and grabbing global attention, as seen with their 480k+ followers on Instagram. And that’s not all—Big Ocean is also busy with a global audition project to find new members who are also hearing-impaired, so their mission to create a more inclusive music space can keep growing.
Big Ocean Member Profiles
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
Now that you know a bit about the group's background, it wouldn’t be complete without getting to know the members, right? Let’s meet the members of Big Ocean!
Park Hyun Jin (박현진)
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
Before joining Big Ocean, Hyun Jin was already well-known as a content creator on TikTok and Instagram, also under Parastar Entertainment. He even appeared as one of the guests on the MBC show Twist The World (2022), which focused on the everyday lives of people with disabilities.
Kim Ji Seok (김지석)
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
In 2023, Ji Seok participated in the alpine skiing competition at the 2023 Special Olympics Korea National Winter Games, also known as Seolsang, a winter sports festival for people with developmental disabilities. Not only is he skilled in sports, but he also joined Parastar Entertainment as a model before eventually becoming part of the line-up for the boy group Big Ocean.
Lee Chan Yeon (이찬연)
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
Lee Chan Yeon was diagnosed with hearing loss in his second year of high school and is currently working as an audiologist at Korea University Anam Hospital, helping many people with hearing issues. In 2023, he and the other members were invited to China to attend the Hangzhou Asian Paralympic Games.
Pado, Big Ocean's Fandom
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| Photo: Instagram/big_ocean.official |
Every K-Pop group has its own fandom, and sometimes their fandom names are super unique. Choosing a name for a fandom isn’t something that’s taken lightly, 여러분. There’s a meaningful story behind it, like ELF, which stands for Everlasting Friends (that’s me!). The name chosen by Teukie represents how Super Junior wants ELF to be their friends—always loyal and sticking together through any challenges we face.
Parastar Entertainment chose the name Big Ocean for their first group because it represents the group’s hope to spread positive energy and happiness to everyone, just like the vast and peaceful ocean.
Their fandom name, Pado, which means "waves" in Korean, was chosen by the fans themselves through social media. Their official fandom color is just as cool—it’s a turquoise blue, which fits perfectly with their ocean-themed vibe.
Adding Sign Language to Choreography
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| Photo: Tribun Jatim |
Before their debut, the members of Big Ocean had to learn various sign languages to greet their hearing-impaired fans in a more inclusive way. In their first single, Glow, the group incorporated Korean Sign Language into their performance to express meaningful lyrics, like "Let’s all hold hands and look up at the sky."
But they didn’t stop there. In their second single, Blow, Big Ocean took it even further by adding American Sign Language and International Sign Language. By doing this, they made sure their message and spirit could be understood by more people from all around the world.
As a long-time K-Pop fan, I really hope Big Ocean can achieve the same level of success as other groups with their unique performances. With Big Ocean’s work in the K-Pop industry, it can open our eyes—and others'—to the idea that we can do anything we want, dream big, and do what others do, even if we have our own challenges.