[Interview] Big Ocean Discuss Their Tour, Their New EP, and Disability Representation

Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage, and substance!

Today we are honoured to speak with the wonderful members of Big Ocean regarding their music, upcoming tour, and goals for the future!

Introduction:

Big Ocean are a K-Pop boy group composed of 3 members: Jiseok, PJ (formerly ‘Hyunjin’) and Chanyeon. Each member has a distinct role within the group, with Jiseok being the main dancer, PJ the main vocalist, and Chanyeon the main rapper. All 3 members have hearing disabilities, with each member living with varying degrees of deafness.

The members use a variety of tools and techniques to help them practice and perform on the stage and through this combination of hard work and innovative technology, they are able to achieve their dreams as pioneers in the industry.

Many K-Pop groups incorporate lyrics in multiple languages to make their songs accessible to a global audience. Alongside vocal performance, the group also sing in sign language. They utilise Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL) and International Sign (IS) to embrace diversity and inclusiveness in their music. Many of their fans (‘Pado’ – the Korean word for ‘wave’) often sign along to their songs from within the crowd.

Big Ocean officially debuted on 20th April 2024 with their single ‘Glow’, a remake of the classic song by 1st generation K-Pop group H.O.T. This bright and energetic song made waves with the global K-Pop community and put a spotlight on the group’s talent.

They followed this up with their own original single ‘BLOW’, an infectious dance pop track with catchy choreography, smooth vocal runs and memorable rap sections.

Their following release, ‘SLOW’ was produced in support of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and focuses on ‘taking it slow’. The song also featured Young K of DAY6.

They then released their first mini album, ‘Follow’ in November of 2024, which incorporated these songs, as well as a new title track ‘FLOW’, which was produced by 3 time Grammy Award winning producer Mark Batson.

Their most recent release was their second mini album, ‘Underwater’, with title track ‘Attention’. In contrast to their previous EP, this album takes on a different and darker concept.

Interview:

1. Big Ocean plays an important role in disability representation not just in the K-Pop music scene, but for the global disabled community. Could you tell us a little bit about the strategies and technologies you use to help you practice and perform your songs?

PJ: We rely on a mix of instinct, teamwork, and tech. Since we don’t always hear sound the same way, we use tools like vibrating smartwatches, flash metronomes, and AI pitch support during practice. These help us stay on beat and refine our delivery. We also use sign language and movement as part of how we express each song. It’s not just about sound, it’s about sensation. It’s all about finding new ways to connect, both with each other and with our Pados.

2. Your second EP, ‘Underwater’, was released on April 20th, 2025. Could you tell us a little bit about the concept behind this album, and what makes it different from your previous releases?

Chanyeon: ‘Underwater’ is all about what lies beneath the surface. The main motif is the merman, a mythical being who doesn’t quite belong on land but becomes powerful underwater. That really resonated with us. Each track in the album reflects a stage of emotional awakening: from vulnerability in ‘SINKING’ to clarity in ‘FADE OUT’, instinct in ‘ATTENTION’, and reunion in ‘END OF TIME’. Compared to our debut mini-album ‘Follow’, which was more youthful and bright, this album feels deeper and more mature in both musically and emotionally.

3. Who are your biggest K-Pop influences?

Jiseok: RM from BTS has had a huge impact on me especially because he supported music education in Deaf schools, including my own.

PJ: I admire TXT’s Yeonjun for his stage presence and creativity.

Chanyeon: I’ve always looked up to RIIZE’s Shotaro and NCT’s Mark for their dance precision and charisma.

4. (For each of the members) What does music mean to you?
Chanyeon: Music is a mirror. Even when things are chaotic, music helps me see who I really am. It gives me confidence.
PJ: Music is how I say things I can’t express any other way. It’s emotional, instinctive, and healing.
Jiseok: To me, music is movement. I don’t just hear it—I feel it. It’s a language I speak with my whole body.

5. Outside of your music, Big Ocean is passionate about protecting the ocean and supporting marginalised communities. Can you tell us a little about your work in these areas?

Jiseok: The ocean represents connection for us, especially as people who use sign language, which is naturally used underwater. That symbolism drives our advocacy. We’ve worked on projects that support disability representation and inclusive technology, like our AI-powered collaboration “brighT,” which used lyrics written by students with intellectual disabilities. We also support conversations around sustainability and accessibility, and we hope to do more with environmental campaigns that align with our name and mission.

6. Big Ocean is a trailblazer in K-Pop for disability representation. What’s Big Ocean’s vision for the future of disability inclusion in the Korean entertainment industry?
PJ: We want to prove that diversity isn’t a barrier, it’s a strength. Our hope is that Deaf and disabled artists will be seen not just for their challenges, but for their creativity. Inclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought, it should be part of how the industry grows. Whether it’s through accessible performances, diverse casting, or behind-the-scenes roles, we want more people to feel like there’s a place for them.

7. You have a large international fanbase, with many global news companies promoting you and your music. Why do you think Big Ocean has such a wide international appeal?

Jiseok: Because we connect with emotion first. We don’t rely only on sound—we use sign, rhythm, expression. That reaches people in a different way. And Pados from all over the world have shared how they feel seen in our music. That emotional honesty breaks language barriers.

8. What are your favourite memories so far as a group?

Chanyeon: One memory that I’ll never forget is from Paris. There was a 73-year-old PADO who missed our first fan meeting last year because she misread the date. We sent her a message back then, hoping we’d meet her one day, and she actually came to our recent show holding a sign asking if we remembered her. We did. That moment made me realize how deeply we’ve grown with our Pados.

PJ: During my solo stage for ‘SINKING’ in Europe, I saw fans in tears. I couldn’t reach them physically, but I looked into their eyes and signed, “Don’t cry. I’m right here.” That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that our connection goes far beyond language.

9. What are your goals as artists?

Chanyeon: We want to keep creating music that tells stories beyond sound. We’d love to collaborate with more artists globally and challenge how people define what an “idol” can be. Whether that’s through new music, acting, or creative projects, we want to keep growing while staying true to who we are.

10. Big Ocean are about to embark on their first global tour, with stops in Europe throughout July. What can your fans expect to see on stage?

Chanyeon: A lot! We’re preparing new stages, solo performances, and even a surprise choreography using bucket hats. Expect a mix of powerful storytelling and visuals you won’t forget. We hope Pados will sign along with us, and feel like they’re part of the performance too.

(Official links to concert tickets – https://linktr.ee/bigocean_official )

Thank you to the members of Big Ocean and the team at Parastar Entertainment for taking the time to answer our questions!

If you would like to discover more about the group, and stream their music, please follow the links below!

Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_ocean.official/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/big_o_cean?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BigOcean.official

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@big_ocean.official?lang=en