Debuting on April 20 — a day in Korea dedicated to celebrating people with disabilities — Parastar Entertainment's Big Ocean burst onto the K-Pop music scene to inspire and make waves as the first hard of hearing idol group. Now that they finally embarked on this journey, Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok are ready to carry on and "sing hope in sign language."

Their debut song "Glow" is a remake of H.O.T.'s "Hope," which was released in 1998. It serves as another motivational anthem and invitation for the new generation, while incorporating sign language into the dance choreography: "Let's open our hearts a little and share our love with each other," they sing in the track's chorus.

Initially, they were not fluent in sign language and had to learn the Korean, International, and American sign language as they geared up for their debut. Prior to their idol lives, they had full-time jobs, but their disabilities did not stop them from pursuing their dreams of sharing and performing music.

Fresh off their debut, allkpop had the opportunity to sit down with the three-member band to talk about finally debuting, pre-idol lives, and the message they hope to convey to the world. Continue reading our full exclusive interview with Big Ocean below!

Shout-out from BIG OCEAN to allkpop readers:

allkpop: First of all, congratulations on your debut! First things first: describe to us the first few days and weeks of being part of Big Ocean. How has your idol life been so far? What was it like doing all the dance challenges?

Chanyeon: I absolutely loved the whole experience! There was so much energy and support from everybody! I’m still not over it! It’s been our dream for a long time, and here we are!

Hyunjin: Ever since our debut, it feels like a dream. I feel grateful to receive more attention from people. Also, it’s such an honor for us to be on the same stage with other senior K-pop groups and do dance challenges.

allkpop: And I saw that you visited SM Entertainment and danced with RIIZE!

Chanyeon: I always admired the team RIIZE, especially Shotaro, so it was amazing!

Hyunjin: RIIZE was especially the first K-pop idol group that we met. Meeting them and doing the dance challenge together gave us motivation to work harder and made us realize what we should work more on. And we were thankful for the RIIZE fans, who also showed support for us. Thanks to them, we could gain the strength to work harder until our actual debut!

allkpop: Since you just debuted and for the readers to get to know more about you, could you share with us some fun facts about each of the members?

Hyunjin: The way we end up joining the group might be an interesting story. We all had different jobs at first. I was working as an MC and TV commercial model as well as a YouTuber as one of the artists in Parastar Entertainment. I usually make content about misunderstandings of people with hearing impairments. When the Big Ocean project was brought up, I was able to join the group.

Jiseok: I used to be an Alpine skier, but I became more interested in acting and the arts. I practiced for a year and a half, but it turned out that competing with people without impairments was tougher than I expected. It was difficult for me to communicate, which hindered me from fully showing what I had prepared and was capable of. Later, I was cast by the CEO of Parastar at an event held by Parastar, where I went to see the show and was saying hello to Hyunjin as a fan.

Chanyeon: I actually had no interest in K-pop. I used to work as an audiologist at the Korea University Anam Hospital. Here, Troy Kotsur, an actor with hearing disability, became our ambassador, and I was invited to talk with him. It was a very memorable moment gaining insight that even with hearing loss, one can shine so bright in an entertainment sector. Later, I learned about the Big Ocean Project, and that’s how I came to begin everything. I developed my affection for the genre through all the lessons.

allkpop: I read in a previous interview that you’ve implemented various adaptations. Could you tell us more about that? How were you able to overcome difficulties you faced during the first few days of performing and getting ready with these devices?

Jiseok: At first, a crew of great staff members helped us visually keep the beat with their hands so that members could get it right. But later, this evolved to use screens that give flashing light on time. We could have peripheral vision to see the monitor. Also, to keep the tempo, we relied on the vibration felt through our footsteps. Later on, our company made a metronome system to give vibration signals through a smartwatch on the wrist.

And since we have various levels of hearing impairment, it was difficult for us to get the pitch right, so when we sing, we use digital tuners to check the pitch. And then, after recording, we implemented AI voice technology that helps the audio be blended well.

allkpop: Why did you choose the group name “Big Ocean”? Is there a meaning behind those words? Does “Ocean” represent endless possibilities and charms of the members?

Hyunjin: We do have endless charms! Stay tuned for that!

Big Ocean: Actually, the name ‘Big Ocean’ embodies the group’s desire to surprise the world (O!) with its potential as vast as the ocean. Moreover, like the ocean spreading throughout the continents, we would like to spread our positive influence around the world. We also chose “Glow,” which is a remake song of the group H.O.T., for our debut song to show our desire to shine people with our positive energy like a light.

allkpop: Since your debut song is titled “Glow,” I wanted to ask you what is something that gives you light and glow whenever you experience the downs or go through the dark times of your life?

Hyunjin: Like the lyrics of the song, people who stay beside me always keep me going. Whenever you are going through challenges, whether you notice it or not, there are friends and families who support you. Also, I wouldn’t have been able to make it to the debut if I didn’t have them or our amazing staff members.

allkpop: I love the song and the lyrics are deep. What do you want to convey to the listeners with that song? What is something you want them to take away from it?

Chanyeon: Not just for people with disabilities, I think this is a song that can speak for many people. From listening to this song, I want people to gain a sense of self-confidence. If this song can give people the courage to step out into the world, I think this song has done its job.

Hyunjin: This song is a remake of the song “Hope” by H.O.T. When the song was originally released, it was during the IMF in Korea, where a lot of people suffered from an economic crisis. This song gave people hope and courage, and we would like to do the same.

Jiseok: Some of the lines are actually written by Mac Curly, a Korean rapper based on our personal stories after a deep interview. I believe it will be interesting to take a look closely into the lyrics. Almost all of the rap parts are somehow including what we have said in the interview, so please keep an eye on the lyrics and enjoy.

allkpop: How long did it take you to learn and master the song itself as well as the dance choreography? Are there any memorable moments from your debut preparations?

Chanyeon: Since each member has different levels of hearing disability, there are differences in how we perceive and respond to music sounds. For example, some react faster to the rhythm count, while others react more slowly, making it difficult to coordinate opinions. So, for the debut song alone, it took us more than two months to accurately understand the vibe.

Jiseok: Moreover, wanting to produce the desired sound while the other people disagree and feeling the sound differently from each other made it difficult to match. It was difficult to produce accurate sounds and it was not easy to catch the rhythm.

allkpop: I love the lines: “If you look around / It’s so heartbreaking / The world is filled with hate and pain / The hearts that hate each other / Open your hearts a little / Let’s share each other’s love”! Do you want to share or add anything about that? What do those lines mean to you?

Jiseok: Sometimes, people hold grudges over trivial things. Sometimes people hate each other because they feel the small differences. We thought that the world would become a warmer and better place if people could embrace differences, and open our hearts to admit different backgrounds. It would be a great honor if we could take part in that transition course.

allkpop: It’s great to hear that you’ve made it. And now, you’ll just continue to inspire other artists! Speaking of inspiration, which artists inspired you and helped you decide to pursue this career path?

Jiseok: My unchanging answer is BTS’s RM who helped me become attracted to music. I graduated from Seoul Samsung School, which is a school for people with hearing disability. RM donated to our school’s music education, and that is when I got to know some cover songs and gained some interest in music. If I have a chance in the future, I will try to be a person who can have a positive influence on people.

Chanyeon: I got inspired by NCT’s Mark and RIIZE’s Shotaro the most. Their impeccable dance moves make me want to learn and practice more.

Hyunjin: I look up to TXT’s Yeonjun as my role model because we are the same age and MBTI. I personally like his moves the most as well.

allkpop: Lastly, what are your short- and long-term goals? Please leave your message to allkpop readers and your fans as well!

Jiseok: The short-term goal would be for us to be able to survive in this extremely competitive K-pop industry. Our long-term goal would be to be able to influence and inspire other people to pursue their goals and not give up.

Chanyeon: I personally think Big Ocean is a group with great confidence and pride. The way we express ourselves is through showing others how we take on unthinkable challenges. Our goal is to spread energy and bring life to others, just like the ocean.

Hyunjin: Nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. Rather than being seen as fighting prejudice, we just want to show people that disability — or whatever obstacle it may be — should never limit your willpower and future endeavors.

Socials:

Twitter: @Big_O_Cean
Instagram: @big_ocean.official
YouTube: Kpop Idol “BIG OCEAN”