First K-pop Idol with Hearing Impairments ‘Big Ocean’ to Debut on Disability Day

연합뉴스 / 2024-03-28 11:24:49

▲ The profile photo, provided by Parastar Entertainment on March 28, 2024, shows K-pop idol group Big Ocean, with members Kim Ji-seok (L), Park Hyun-jin (C) and Lee Chan-yeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, March 28 (Yonhap) -- Big Ocean, a group composed entirely of three members with hearing impairments, will debut on Disability Day next month, announced their agency, Parasta Entertainment, on the 28th.

Big Ocean consists of three members: Lee Chanyeon, Park Hyunjin, and Kim Jiseok. The members sing in Korean Sign Language, American Sign Language, and International Sign Language.

The group name 'Big Ocean' carries the meaning of "delivering huge surprise to the world" and expresses their ambition to extend globally like the ocean with vast potential.

Big Ocean will release their first digital single 'Light' on the 20th of next month and embark on their activities. 'Light' is a remake of the hit song of the same name by the first-generation representative group H.O.T.

Last month, Parasta secured partnerships with IT companies, including SK Telecom, at the MWC2024 (Mobile World Congress) held in Barcelona, Spain. Parasta is said to have overcome limitations due to low hearing by utilizing self-developed technologies such as the Light Metronome.

According to Parastar Entertainment, Big Ocean members recorded their songs with their own voices like typical idol groups. However, they received assistance from AI that trained their voices for certain areas such as high notes. They plan to incorporate sign language intermittently during their performances on stage.

Parasta stated, "Big Ocean's debut will generate new reverberations in the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) culture, which has recently become a major concern for both corporations and the public."