Big Ocean, a three-piece boy band from South Korea, has found success by blending powerful vocals with a one-of-a-kind story.
Members Lee Chan-yeon, PJ and Kim Ji-seok are breaking barriers through inclusive performances enhanced by cutting-edge technology. They seamlessly incorporate sign language into their shows, and use vibrating smartwatches that pulse in time with the music and LED visual metronomes that provide flashing cues during rehearsals.
The group uses English when communicating with international fans, but incorporates Korean Sign Language, American Sign Language and International Sign Language to promote accessibility and inclusion.
This innovative approach marks significant progress in South Korea's entertainment industry, where opportunities for artists with disabilities have often been limited.
Each member has varying degrees of hearing loss. Kim was born with a hearing impairment, PJ experienced partial hearing loss at age three and Lee began losing his hearing at 11.
The band toured Europe in 2025 and their second album, Underwater, is out now.
