The site of the “2026 New Year’s greeting society for science and technology personnel and information and broadcasting communications” held at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 14th. On stage, exclamations poured out to the idol group, who carried out an ideal group dance to the music that remade H.O.T.’s “Light.” Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and different individuals had been stunned to listen to the moderator’s introduction belatedly. “Are they really idols who can’t hear the sound?”
They are the world’s first deaf idol ‘Big Ocean’ that breaks prejudice and attracts the world’s consideration. The Big Ocean members (Lee Chan-yeon, Park Hyun-jin, and Kim Ji-seok) met at Parasta Entertainment’s workplace in Gangnam-gu stated, “Technology has set us on the stage, but it is the sweat and effort we shed to complete the stage.”
The surroundings of their follow rooms is sort of totally different. Along with the sound of the music, the vibration rings on the smartwatch on the members’ wrists and the “light metronome” monitor adjustments shade to match the beat. The secret to the skill of individuals with listening to impairments to carry out sword dance is that this “sensory substitution technology.”
Lee Chan-yeon (28), the eldest brother who’s the fundamental rapper, stated, “We don’t just listen with our ears. “I hear with the reminiscence of sight, contact, and muscular tissues,” he said. “We share the similar beat with one another by the vibration of sensible watches, watch adjustments in mild, and carry out promised actions.” Main dancer Kim Ji-seok (23) said, “The listening to is weak however the contact is delicate, so it’s extra correct to just accept the rhythm by vibration,” adding, “If wearable technology develops in the future, extra subtle dance traces and performances shall be attainable.”
The members additionally poured out concepts instantly from the scene. The mild metronome presently used has the drawback of shedding eye contact with the viewers as a result of you need to regulate the monitor. In response, the members proposed the introduction of “augmented reality (AR) glass.” If the lyrics or beat alerts are displayed like holograms by glasses on stage, you may trip the precise beat whereas taking a look at the viewers.
Lee Chan-yeon additionally goals of the evolution of wearable gadgets. He added, “If a ‘haptic (vibration) ring’ is developed, the degree of freedom in performance will increase.”
In the recording course of, synthetic intelligence (AI) voice conversion technology performs a job of “fourth member.” When members sing, AI corrects the pitch and pronunciation based mostly on deep-learning members’ voice knowledge to provide optimum outcomes. “There is a view that AI technology violates the artist’s domain, but it is like a ‘wing’ that made it impossible for us,” fundamental vocalist Park Hyun-jin (PJ, 27) stated. “Thanks to technology, we can communicate with global fans by releasing multilingual sound sources such as English and Spanish.”
But technology is nothing however help. All three members are “challenge icons” who’ve pushed for a steady life with out compromising on the actuality of incapacity. The youngest, Kim Ji-seok, was a former Alpine skier. He stated, “I hated the prejudiced view that I should just use my body because I have a disability,” and added, “I was convinced that the stage was not a frame set by others, but a place where I could really shine.”
Lee Chan-yeon has a singular historical past of serving as a ‘listening instructor’ who helps individuals with listening to loss at Korea University’s Anam Hospital. He asserted, “I have no regrets about choosing a life that beats my heart over a stable life.”
Big Ocean, which efficiently accomplished its European and U.S. excursions final yr, will tour South America in Mexico and Puerto Rico in March and launch its third full-length album. The key phrase penetrating this exercise is ‘subjectivity’. Park Hyun-jin defined, “This album means that we will keep our beliefs and move on without anyone’s help or conditions.” It isn’t just an idol who has overcome a incapacity, however a dedication to indicate itself as an artist who grows up along with his expertise and attraction.
The aim of the Big Ocean is evident. Beyond the modifier “deaf idol,” it enters the Billboard chart and is acknowledged for its musicality.
“Our fandom name is ‘Wave’. Just as the sea is connected by waves rather than sound, I want to cross the language barrier and convey a wave of hope to the world.”
[Reporter Lee Saebom]