In their first interview in Brazil, the k-pop group made up of hearing-impaired members talked about the obstacles they faced at the start of their career
K-pop surprises us more every day! This month, Big O!cean, the first k-pop group made up of hearing-impaired members, released their debut. Made up of Kim Ji So, Park Hyun Jin and Lee Chan Yeon, the group chose to release a remake of Hope, a hit originally released by H.O.T in 1998.
The group, who will be using three different languages in their performances, American Sign Language (ASL), International Sign Language (ISL) and Korean Sign Language (SUO), spoke exclusively with Entretê about their history, debut and next steps. Check it out:
Entretetizei: Could you introduce yourselves, one by one, to your Brazilian fans and tell them a bit about yourselves?
Big O!cean: Hello, dear Brazilian fans! We are very happy to have the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you. I’m Chan Yeon, the rapper from Big Ocean. With my energetic and charismatic presence, I aim to elevate our performances and connect with our audience on a deeper level.
Next, let me introduce you to Hyun Jin, our lead singer. Hyun Jin has a unique ability to convey emotions through his soulful singing. His voice resonates with sincerity and passion, adding depth to our music.
Finally, there’s Ji Seok, the group’s dancer. Ji Seok’s dynamic movements and storytelling skills enhance our choreography, captivating audiences with his expressive performance style.
E: We’d like to know a bit more about your hearing loss. Do all three of you use a cochlear implant? Tell us a bit about that.
BO: The severity of each member’s hearing loss varies. Ji Seok uses hearing aids, Hyun Jin has a cochlear implant and hearing aids, and Chan Yeon has cochlear implants in both ears. We all became skilled at lip-reading in order to communicate, and we trained hard when we were young to speak with clear, distinct voices. In addition, three of us learned Korean Sign Language (KSL).
E: Before you thought about debuting in k-pop, you did other activities, right? What were they?
BO: Before we ventured into the world of K-pop, we were involved in various activities. Chanyeon pursued a career as an audiologist, Hyunjin focused on raising awareness of disabilities through his YouTube channel, and Ji Seok was immersed in the world of sports as a ski athlete representing the Seoul city team.
E: What is the history of Big O!cean and how did the idea of creating a group come about? Were you inspired by any group?
BO: Our company, Parastar Entertainment, is encouraging TV talent with disabilities, and more than 40 artists are taking part. As our company aims to create superstars, the CEO thought of ways to make this happen. It was the Big Ocean project. Hyun Jin was originally a member of Parastar, so he joined the first group and later an official audition was held to place the members in a group.
E: How long did you train to become idols?
BO: Hyunjin had already signed a contract with Parastar since 2020, but all three members trained for a year and a half. The training period to become idols varied for each of us. It involved rigorous vocal and dance training, acting classes, as well as sign language lessons, and personal training for sports. Through dedication and hard work, we honed our talents and prepared for the premiere.
E: What were the first obstacles you had to face when you decided to enter the k-pop market? Did you suffer any kind of prejudice?
BO: As newcomers to the K-pop industry, we faced many obstacles, including skepticism and prejudice due to our hearing impairment. At first, it was difficult for our team to attract investment, because many were skeptical that a disabled artist could be idolized. But with a tight budget, we remained resilient and focused on showcasing our skills, striving to defy stereotypes and prove our worth as artists.
E: In Brazil, 5% of our population is made up of hearing-impaired people, and I’ve met some of these people who are also K-Pop fans. When you decided that you were going to make your debut in the industry, did you imagine how important it would be for other people to also have this representation in a genre that they like so much?
BO: When we decided to debut in the industry, we recognized the importance of representing people with disabilities in a genre loved by fans all over the world. We hoped to inspire others and promote greater inclusion and acceptance in the K-pop community. And when we debuted, we could feel that many were cheering for our debut, as we were seen as a social experiment.
E: Speaking of debuts, on Saturday (20) you released your first single, GLOW. What was the creation process like? Is there anything special about the single that you want to share with your fans?
BO: The release of our first single, Glow, was a collaborative and exciting process. Our goal was to give the song our unique style and message while paying homage to the legendary K-pop group H.O.T. It’s a song full of hope and positivity, reflecting our journey as a group.
While creating the song, we discovered that our singing voice was missing notes and going out of tune. So we looked for an AI voice conversion solution. It deeply learned our voice and cloned it to produce a better sound. We hope to be able to sing with our own voice in the very near future.
E: Now that you’ve released GLOW, do you intend to work on a full album or a mixtape? Is anything in the works?
BO: After the release of Glow, we are exploring the possibility of working on a full album or a mixtape. At least two more digital singles are planned for May and June this year. We’re excited about the prospect of creating more music and sharing our stories with fans through future releases.
E: Have you seen the public’s reaction to the release of the single? If so, what did you think of the feedback? Everyone I’ve heard from has been super positive. Brazilian kpoppers loved it!
BO: We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to our debut single from fans all over the world, including those in Brazil. Especially since we’ve been broadcasting live on the Tiktok channel for more than 5 hours a day, we’ve noticed that there are a lot of Brazilian fans present, supporting us. Whenever we see Brazilian flags in the comments, we feel very happy.
We’re checking out almost all the reaction videos uploaded to the various social media channels and we’re also grateful for the photos of us uploaded and the gifts sent to our office. Last but not least, it’s incredibly gratifying to see our music resonate with people from diverse backgrounds, and we’re grateful for the love and support we’ve received.
E: How did it feel to know that your music is reaching fans on the other side of the world?
BO: Knowing that our music is reaching fans on the other side of the world fills us with immense joy and gratitude. It’s a testament to the power of music to transcend cultural and language barriers, bringing people together through shared emotions and experiences.
I: Have you had any contact with Brazilian culture? Do you speak Portuguese or have you seen what Libras (Brazilian sign language) is like?
BO: Although we haven’t had direct contact with Brazilian culture, we appreciate the rich diversity and vibrant energy of Brazilian music and entertainment. We look forward to learning more about Brazilian culture, including Portuguese and Libras, as we continue to connect with fans around the world. Brasil! Eu te amo!
E: Going back to the premiere, do you already know what the name of the fandom will be? Are you planning to create a lightstick?
BO: As for the name of the fandom and the lightstick, we’re still in the process of planning and considering various options. Initially, we thought of the name Wave, because it came first in the vote for our fandom’s name, but then we found out that it matched the name of another fandom. So we’re thinking of changing it to Pado, which is the Korean word for Wave. And Pado won in another round of voting recently. We want to involve our fans in the decision-making process and create meaningful symbols that represent our bond as a group.
E: Do you plan to tour in the future?
BO: Touring is definitely on our radar for the future. We’re excited about the opportunity to meet our fans in person, share unforgettable moments together, and showcase our music and performances on a global stage.
E: What are the next steps for the group?
BO: Our next steps as a group involve continuing to create meaningful music, pushing boundaries and advocating for diversity and inclusion in the music industry. We are committed to inspiring others and making a positive impact through our music and actions. To this end, we are open to various collaborative works with international organizations, brand companies and more.
E: Would you like to leave a message for your Brazilian fans?
BO: To our Brazilian fans, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support and enthusiasm. Your love and encouragement mean a lot to us, and we’re excited to embark on this journey together with you. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting music from Big Ocean!
What did you think of the interview with Big O!cean? Let us know! And follow Entretetizei’s social networks — Facebook, Instagram and X — for more news on Asian culture.
Also read: Big O!cean, first K-pop group with hearing impaired members, announces debut date
Text revised by Luiza Carvalho