Hearing-Impaired Idol Group Big Ocean Debuts with H.O.T “Hope” Remake

Big Ocean, K-Pop’s first idol group with hearing impairments, debuted on April 20, South Korea’s Day of People with Disabilities. Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok released their debut song “Glow” as a remake of H.O.T’s 1998 single, “Hope.” The meaning of the name Big Ocean comes with an idea of optimism. According to Hyunjin, the group wishes to spread “hope and positivity to everyone,” much like the calming effect of the ocean view. By integrating multiple kinds of sign language in their performance, the trio reinterprets a classic song in an accessible way.

The Idea Behind Big Ocean

Big Ocean is managed under PARASTAR Entertainment, South Korea’s sole artist management agency that focuses on people with disabilities. Since the company’s founding in 2020, it has promoted multiple individuals with varying disabilities: its roster includes performers such as athletes, actors, and influencers. PARASTAR Entertainment CEO Haley Cha wanted to add an idol group to the company’s repertoire in hopes to elevate it to “superstar” status. 

Prior to training as idols, the Big Ocean members worked in non-music fields. Chanyeon worked as a hospital audiologist, Hyunjin worked as an influencer on YouTube, and Jiseok participated on Seoul’s para ski team. Despite their varying backgrounds, they eventually formed a team. The group uploaded sign language covers of songs under their pre-debut name SBOYZ. 

From “Hope” to “Glow”

Big Ocean’s debut single remakes H.O.T’s 1998 single “Hope” from their third album Resurrection. In addition to debuting as K-Pop’s first idol group, H.O.T was known for their songs providing social commentary. Kangta wrote, composed, and arranged the song, which talks about collective unity during troubling times.* 

Big Ocean’s “Glow” mixes idol choreography with sign language. As shown in an Arirang TV interview, the members wear watches that vibrate in sync with song beats to execute the choreography. The members also learnt Korean Sign Language, American Sign Language, and International Sign Language in preparation for their debut. 

An AI program aided in the production of the members’ vocals since the recording process differed from other idol singers. The company used AI to “resolve the issues surrounding the pitch and singing abilities of the members.” Staying on pitch proves difficult when a singer encounters difficulties hearing their own voice. The efforts of Big Ocean and their team paid off with the single’s release and a Show! Music Core stage the same day. Looking forward, Big Ocean plans to continue their wave of momentum with original singles in May and June. 

*Note: lyrics taken from English captions in the official music video.

Edited by Lacey Diluvio