Big Ocean: K-pop’s First Deaf Boy Band

Meet ‘Big Ocean’, the world’s first K-pop group made entirely of hearing-impaired artists

Big Ocean: K-pop’s First Deaf Boy Band

"UN AI for Good Summit 2025 - Big Ocean 02" by Xuthoriais licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.


What's The News?

Big Ocean, a new boy band, is the first K-pop group whose members have trouble hearing. This means they cannot hear clearly!

Their music tells the world that everyone shall be included, no matter what.

Who Are the Big Ocean Members?

Big Ocean has three members: Lee Chan-yeon, Park Hyunjin, and Kim Ji-seok.

Chan-yeon is the oldest. He is 26 years old and [[raps::To sing or speak fast words over a beat in music.]] with the group. He used to help people with hearing issues.

Hyunjin is 24 years old. He's the singer. People also call him PJ. He was a YouTuber before joining the group.

Ji-seok is 21 years old. He is the dancer. He was a top [[skier::A person who uses skis to move over snow.]] before becoming a K-pop celebrity.

What is K-Pop and Why Do People Love It?

K-pop means Korean [[pop::A style of music that is catchy and fun.]] music. It is known for fun songs, colourful videos, and great dance.

Famous K-pop groups such as [[BTS::The name of a famous K-pop group from South Korea.]] and [[Blackpink::The name of another famous K-pop group from South Kore]]a. have fans all over the world. K-pop singers train for many years to sing and dance well. That’s why their shows look perfect!

How Do They Dance and Sing Without Hearing?

Big Ocean wears smartwatches that vibrate with the music. This allows them to feel the beat.

They practise in front of mirrors and watch one another to learn the moves.

They use artificial intelligence (AI), a smart computer tool, to help them sing. They also use sign language on stage, so deaf fans can enjoy the show.

Even in the past, deaf musicians have done great things. Beethoven, a very famous musician, also lost his hearing. But he still made beautiful music. Big Ocean is doing the same in K-pop.,

A Message More Than Just Music

Big Ocean teaches us that having a [[disability::When someone has trouble doing something because of a physical or mental challenge.]] does not stop you from doing great things.

Anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself. 

Quick Revision

  • Big Ocean is the first K-pop group whose members have hearing problems and spread a message of inclusion.

  • The group has three members: Lee Chan-yeon (rapper), Park Hyunjin (singer), and Kim Ji-seok (dancer).

  • K-pop is Korean pop music loved worldwide, made famous by BTS and Blackpink.

  • Big Ocean performs using vibrations, AI, mirrors, and sign language.

  • They show that disability cannot stop dreams.

Knowledge checkpoint

Quick Revision