While on The Great Battle tour across the U.S., K-pop boy group Big Ocean held their first ever show in Los Angeles. Following the completion of the tour, Asia Blooming connected with the group to learn more about their experience touring, making music, and more.
Big Ocean is the first K-pop group to debut with hard-of-hearing members. The trio, Lee Chan-yeon, PJ, and Kim Ji-seok, debuted in 2024 with “Glow,” which was released on the Day of Persons with Disabilities in South Korea. The group proudly describes their performances as a form of expression that combines vocals, sign language, and choreography, bringing awareness to the use of Korean Sign Language. Being the first of anything can be rewarding, but it comes with its own hardships because there aren’t any guidelines or templates to follow. “People often assume the biggest challenges were things like pronunciation or performance itself, but one unexpected challenge was that we couldn’t simply rely on existing training methods,” PJ shared honestly. “Because each of us recognizes rhythm and timing differently, it was difficult to sync using conventional K-pop training alone. We had to build our own ways of practicing and communicating using visual cues, vibration-based support, and methods that worked for us. In many ways, the challenge was not just adapting to an existing system, but creating a system of our own. Though difficult, I think that process is what shaped Big Ocean.”
When it comes to making music, the trio works hard to ensure they’re able to create songs that both all audiences can connect with. “When we create music, we often begin by thinking about what emotion we want people to feel first,” Chanyeon shared. “From there, we think about how that emotion can live not only in the song itself, but also through performance and sign language. For us, sign language is not separate from the music; it is part of how the song carries meaning. Even if audiences experience music differently, we hope they can arrive at the same emotion through different ways of feeling the song.” It’s the same for their choreography and the sign language they incorporate throughout. “It always starts with the meaning of the lyrics,” Chanyeon began. “Every hand movement has to carry the exact thought of the words, so the choreography and the language are built together from the beginning, not separately. What might look like a dance move from the outside is actually a full sentence.”
This was the group’s second visit to the U.S., and though the first time jitters were gone, there were still nerve-wracking aspects of setting off on their second stateside tour just two years after their debut. “The first time, everything was new. The cities, the venues, the feeling of being in the same room as PADO (Big Ocean fans) we’d only ever connected with from a distance. There was so much excitement, but also so much we didn’t know what to expect,” PJ admitted. “This time feels different. We’re coming with THE GREATEST BATTLE, a deeper chapter of our story, and that gives everything more clarity and purpose. It feels less like introducing ourselves and more like inviting people further into a journey we’re all continuing together. We’ve also prepared a lot more on both sides, inside the show and outside of it, and it’s been really great seeing fans enjoy the new activities we’ve put together. We want to show up as much as possible while we’re here, so that when we head back to Korea, there’s as little left unsaid as possible and PADO doesn’t have to wait too long before the next time.”
The tour is in support of Big Ocean’s recent album of the same name, and it’s one that strongly resonates with the group right now. “Every track on this album carries its own personal story for each of us, and that’s what makes THE GREATEST BATTLE feel so different from everything we’ve done before,” Jiseok shared. “For me, I’d choose ‘Back’ as a song that’s most personal to me. It’s my first solo track, so out of everything on this album, that’s the one I feel the most ownership over. Performing it feels like telling my own story in my own language. The feeling of betrayal, losing yourself, and then finding your way back, it’s something I’ve actually lived. Because of that, this song holds a very special place for me.” Chiming in, Chanyeon shared that the whole album was full of intention and meaning. “With this album especially, storytelling is really the core of everything we do. Every formation, every gesture, and even every visual choice. Nothing is there just to look good. There’s a reason and a story behind all of it.”
Big Ocean is a group of three individuals that each shine in their own way, that hope to carry music across genres, across styles, and across languages. “Our ‘Free Soul Pop’ genre is music that does not have to be experienced in only one way,” PJ began. “We wanted more people to connect with music in their own way, and that is why we naturally brought sign language into our music. We also wanted to show that music can be expressed and received in more ways than people may expect. In the end, this concept came from our belief in diversity, freedom, and the hope that anyone can find comfort in music in a way that truly fits them.”
Having been in the industry for two years now, Big Ocean has seen change in how accessible things are, but note that there’s still progress to be made. “Accessibility is an important foundation, and we believe the industry should continue improving essential conditions such as accessible venues and more barrier-free environments, so that talented artists can compete on equal footing and audiences can fully experience music,” PJ started. “For artists with disabilities, don’t be defined by perceived limits. Train consistently, refine your skills, and push beyond them to reach your goal. Challenges may differ, but persistence is what turns effort into real opportunity.”
On what they hope to accomplish for themselves, for other artists who may be hesitating due to their disabilities, and for fans who may be experiencing the same, they shared some final positive words. “Ultimately, we hope to see a music industry that recognizes artists for their ability, dedication, and growth. At the end of the day, talent and hard work are what allow each individual to create their own opportunities and expand access for themselves over time,” PJ stated first. Jiseok continued on to share that the most important thing to remember is to chase your own goals without being limited by others. “The door is wider than it might look from the outside,” he began. “There are so many incredibly talented people with disabilities who were told, sometimes directly and sometimes not, that certain stages weren’t for them. We hope our journey is something they can point to and feel like, ‘Okay, maybe that could be me too.’ And beyond that, we hope they feel genuinely seen. Not as an exception, not as inspiration, but as people whose stories and voices belong here just as much as anyone else’s.”
To commemorate the completion of Big Ocean’s tour, Asia Blooming is hosting a giveaway on Twitter and Instagram for one lucky winner to receive a signed album from the group! Entrants can enter the giveaway on either Twitter or Instagram. Enter on both Twitter and Instagram to increase your chances of winning!
To enter the Twitter giveaway:
- Follow Asia Blooming on Twitter:Â @AsiaBlooming
- Retweet the giveaway post
- Bonus entry: Tag a friend in a comment for extra entries—1 extra entry per tagged friend, up to 5 total.
To enter the Instagram giveaway:
- Follow Asia Blooming on Instagram:Â @AsiaBlooming
- Repost the giveaway post
- Bonus entry: Tag a friend in a comment for extra entries—1 extra entry per tagged friend, up to 5 total.
Only U.S. participants are eligible for this giveaway. Also, only good faith entries are eligible. The giveaway closes at 5:00pm PT on May 22, 2026, and the winners will be contacted shortly after. Good luck!
