Big Ocean: See exclusive photos of September 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month

By Bryan Katz, EditorSeptember 20, 20245 Mins Read

HyunJin, ChanYeon and JiSeok came together as Big Ocean to debut in April this year as the first Deaf/Hard of Hearing group in K-pop. The group's warm embrace on stage by superstars, production and executives across Korea points to a more inclusive global music scene.

Put together by Korea's only agency representing talent with disabilities Parastar Entertainment, Big Ocean sees three stars with different backgrounds and listening abilities as a sign of hope and possibility.

The group's lead singer Park HyunJin lost hearing in his left ear after a childhood accident, but cochlear surgery led him to learn to play the piano, speak a little English, and break out as a YouTube creator and television personality who educates viewers about hearing difficulties. Master rapper Lee ChanYeon, who underwent cochlear implant surgery in both ears, developed his interest in music after experiencing the positive side effects of music therapy. Meanwhile, youngest member and lead dancer Kim JiSeok was born hearing impaired and attended a special school for the disabled before becoming a professional ski racer for the Seoul Ski Team.

Big Ocean admits that the members' varied auditory perceptions can create challenges when it comes to learning choreography, singing in rhythm and performing live, but they are inspiring innovative ways for the group and their Parastar team to find new ways to rehearsals with success, such as using vibrating smartwatches. as metronomes or flashing lights for rhythmic measurement.

Get to know rookies more with exclusive photos from Billboard Korea and fun questions below.

Image credit: JoongSan Yang

Import…
Meet HyunJin

Image credit: JoongSan Yang

I love it when fans call me: Plankton
My favorite song ever: “Gabriel's Oboe”, by Ennio Morricone [from The Mission soundtrack]
My favorite color: White
One thing I wish people understood more about hearing difficulties: There are options to choose which language to grab first from either sign language or spoken language. I learned to talk [an] first spoken and then started learning sign language later. But, in any case, communication makes no difference.
My favorite signature phrase: “I really love you!”
My favorite quote or advice: “Try not to become a man of success, but to become a man of worth” – Albert Einstein
Meet JiSeok

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I love it when fans call me: All included
My favorite song ever: “Everything” by RM and NELL
My favorite color: Green
One thing I wish people understood more about hearing difficulties: Not all disabilities are the same.
My favorite signature phrase: “I miss you” in Korean Sign Language (KSL)
My favorite tip: “Never forget your power”
Meet ChanYeon

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I love it when fans call me: Chan or Chani
My favorite songs: Big Ocean's “Glow,” “Blow,” and “Slow!”
My favorite color: Turquoise blue and sky blue
One thing I wish people understood more about hearing difficulties: Not every deaf person speaks sign language.
My favorite signature phrase: “I love you” 🤟
My favorite quotes are: First, “Carpe diem” [“Sieze the day”]. Second, “Memento mori” [“Remember you must die”]. Third, “C'est la vie” [“That’s life”].
JiSeok in RM of BTS

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“I'm really thankful to RM of BTS for this [inspiring] My big interest in music,” JiSeok says of his first K-pop role model.
HyunJin to Billie Eilish

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“Among the artists on the Billboard charts, I like Billie Eilish because her songs are very dreamy,” HyunJin says of his musical role model. “It's really my style, so I love Billie's songs and listening to them.”
Great Ocean

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Big Ocean says they plan to release a new single in November to follow up their previous singles “Glow,” “Blow,” and “Slow” with Young K of DAY6.
ChanYeon to Taylor Swift

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“If I had to pick one, then I'd say Taylor Swift because she's a singer-songwriter who makes her own music and puts her life and messages into her music,” ChanYeon says of his role model. “I want to be able to make and release songs like this where we incorporate our experiences into our music.”
JiSeok to Hyunjin of Stray Kids

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“Whenever I watch Hyunjin's dance moves, I'm in awe,” JiSeok says of the Stray Kids member as another role model. “I practice my dance moves a lot these days and I'm always thinking about how to make them better… I really want to practice more, learn more and dance like him.”
HyunJin thanks you

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“I really want to say thank you to all the fans and people who made Big Ocean possible and gave us a lot of support,” says the group's lead singer. “To our fans, the PADOS, who are constantly supporting us, promoting us, and even doing all these activities to attract more PADOS to the social communities — I really want to thank you. We will do our part and work harder to show you even more performance and activities.”