Most recently, the world’s first hearing-impaired K-pop idol group debuted! Big O!cean, under PARASTAR Entertainment, hopes to make music accessible to everyone as they introduce S-Pop (Sign-language Pop) in their performances.
Let’s get to know the members, shall we?
Park Hyunjin
- Position: Main vocalist
- Birthday: October 24, 1999
Hyunjin developed hearing loss when he was two years old after experiencing a high fever. A second incident caused him to lose more of his hearing when he was nine.
Lee Chanyeon
- Position: Main rapper
- Birthday: March 27, 1998
He currently uses a cochlear implant and used to be an audiologist at a hospital.
Kim Jiseok
- Position: Main dancer and maknae
- Birthday: March 5, 2003
He was a ski racer in the Seoul Para Ski Team. He is also known for being a student who attended the school to which BTS’s RM donated in the past. Jiseok revealed that because of this, he became more interested in music and made his debut as an idol.
Due to their hearing impairment, it is difficult to be in tune. The group produced music with the help of AI technology that learned the members’ voice data.
In a recent news interview, they stated, “We want erase the prejudice that hearing-impaired people cannot sing. While it may be hard, not being able to hear is not an excuse as we are trying to officially become singers.”
Most recently, the group made its official debut on Korea’s Disabled Person’s Day, which is April 20. They performed their debut song, which is a remake of H.OT.‘s “Glow.”
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