Bio : Big Ocean
Big Ocean is the world's first idol group that sings in sign language.
Big Ocean debuted on April 20, 2024, the "Day of Persons with Disabilities," with all members living with hearing disabilities. They made their debut with "GLOW," a remake of H.O.T.'s legendary song "Light (빛)."
Big Ocean is redefining what music can be by performing every song in sign language. Delivering live performances in Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign (IS), they show that music is no longer something only heard—it can be music seen with the eyes and a resonance felt with the heart. The fandom has also developed its own "sign language cheering" culture, so a Big Ocean concert becomes not just a performance by the artists but a shared experience created together with the audience.
Big Ocean has steadily expanded its musical footprint since debut. After first stepping out with the debut track "GLOW" in April 2024, the group released its 1st mini album "Follow" (tracks: GLOW, SLOW, BLOW, FLOW) in November of the same year, with GLOW as the title track. Produced in collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Mark Batson, the album reached the Apple iTunes K-pop Album Top 5. This was followed by the 2nd mini album "Underwater" (tracks: SINKING, FADE OUT, ATTENTION, END OF TIME) in April 2025, and on March 3, 2026—"World Hearing Day"—the group returned with its 3rd mini album "The Greatest Battle" (double title tracks: One Man Army and Cold Moon; tracks: Alive, Back). Along the way, they have also showcased a wide musical range through digital singles including "Bucket hat" (JJ unit, PJ × Jiseok), "BrighT" (a collaboration with SKT), and latest song “Make it up to you” which was a special tribute track for the European fandoms when the recent Europe tour 2026 was cancelled due to force majeure.
Now Big Ocean is preparing to open its next chapter. The group's upcoming single "Love Sign," set for release on 9th September 2026, turns its identity into the hook itself: playing on the classic question "What's your sign?", the chorus weaves the names of the world's sign languages — ASL, BSL, KSL and more — into a sleek nu-disco groove. Written primarily in English for global listeners, the track marks Big Ocean's boldest and most mature concept to date — one in which sign language is no longer a translation added to the stage, but the theme, the hook, and the language of the performance itself. It is "See Music, Feel Music" in its most confident form yet.
Big Ocean has also adopted a range of cutting-edge technologies to overcome the limits of hearing. Members with limited hearing trained using a sensory metronome—converting the music's main beats into vibrations through a smartwatch, and translating beats into flashing lights on a screen to feel the music in alternative ways. The group also used AI voice conversion solutions to produce their tracks, a method that maps a guide vocalist's voice onto Big Ocean's own vocal tone. They are a team that puts humanism into practice through technology.
Big Ocean's positive social impact has earned wide recognition as well. Just over a year after debut, the group was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 in the Entertainment sector, and in 2024 it was selected as Billboard's K-pop Rookie of the Month. Big Ocean also became the first-ever recipient of the newly established Social Impact award at the 2025 TikTok Awards, and received a Korean Wave Special Award at the Newsis K-Culture Expo. Within two years of debut, the group performed in more than 20 cities across two U.S. tours and two European tours, and it collaborates with UN agencies including the WHO, ITU, and ILO. In 2026, Big Ocean was further appointed as an Honorary Ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), promoting open and inclusive tourism programs—continuing to broaden its social influence.