[INTERVIEW] BIG OCEAN GUIDE FANS THROUGH THEIR “GREATEST BATTLE” IN CHICAGO

On April 10, eager fans lined up early to be let into the Copernicus Center on the northwest side of Chicago. Heartwarmingly, attendees were engaging enthusiastically with each other, passing out freebies, and expressing shared excitement with one another. These fans were lined up to see Big Ocean, K-pop’s first all-deaf group, on their 2026 World Tour. 

This 2026 World Tour follows the group’s first U.S. tour which ended a little less than a year ago. What makes this tour different from the last is the release of the group’s first album, ‘The Greatest Battle.’ With this tour, Big Ocean is hitting nine U.S. stops, including cities that are new to them, like Chicago. 

POP TOKKI had the opportunity to interview Big Ocean’s PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon following their Chicago show. Here is what they had to say: 

POP TOKKI: For people who don’t know Big Ocean, how would you describe your group?

Jiseok: We’re the first all-deaf group in K-pop, and sign language is woven into everything we perform so our music is something you can both hear and see at the same time. Our music is like a diary. It captures our real stories, our actual experiences, and we think that honesty is what helps people connect with us. Feel the music, see the music, that’s Big Ocean.

PT: How would you describe Big Ocean’s sound?

PJ: We call it “Free Soul Pop” but it’s less about a specific sound and more about a feeling. It’s about self-acceptance, finding comfort through music, and creating a space where you can truly be yourself. We explore a lot of different directions, but there’s always an emotional honesty underneath it. And with our latest album, we pushed that honesty even further. We hope that intensity doesn’t just hit hard but actually gives people something to hold onto on their own journey.

PT: Where do you all draw inspiration from with your music?

Chanyeon: Honestly, our own lives are the biggest source. Every album so far has reflected where we actually are, not where we think we should be. Our first album was about offering comfort. Our second drew from the feeling of not fully belonging anywhere. And this one comes from the experience of fighting hard for a long time and still choosing to stand. History inspires us too. “One Man Army” was rooted in Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the Battle of Myeongnyang, because that image of twelve ships against an entire fleet felt so close to our own journey.

PT: How has being K-pop’s first all-deaf group shaped Big Ocean’s identity, and what responsibilities do you keep in mind as representatives of this community?

PJ: It shapes us from how we record to how we perform. We’re always thinking about what each of us can actually hear, how to make the music accessible, how to make sign language feel as integral to a performance as the vocals themselves. As for responsibility, we try not to carry it as pressure but as purpose. We want to show that deaf artists belong in this space, that disability is part of our story but not a ceiling. And beyond our own community, we hope what we do helps build a world where diversity is just expected and not celebrated as an exception.

PT: As a deaf group, we can imagine your experience as idols has been different. How do you overcome some of the challenges, and what mindset do you have to not let these challenges hinder you all from being in the K-pop scene?

Jiseok: We’ve lived with these challenges our whole lives, so we’ve kind of grown alongside them. And that experience taught us that the only way forward is to trust yourself and trust the mission no matter what. Beyond that, the day-to-day is really about leaning on each other. Because each of us hears differently, different strengths — we’re constantly in conversation during recording and rehearsal. One of us catches what another misses. We’ve built a system out of that, and honestly it’s made us closer as a group. The challenge never fully goes away, but we stopped waiting for it to. We just keep moving with it.

PT: Do you have a favorite moment as idols? What moment in your career has been most memorable?

Chanyeon: Every moment feels significant in its own way. But I still think about our debut day, seeing fans cheering and waving along to our music for the first time, that was something we’ll never forget. And in the nearly two years since, there have been so many sweet, meaningful moments between us and our PADOs that keep adding up. Honestly though, the ones that move me most are when a fan shares that our music or even just our presence helped them get through something difficult in their own life. Those moments remind me exactly why we started this journey. And I’m also truly proud of every PADO who found the strength to push through. That means more to us than anything.

PT: This is the group’s second time coming to America. Since the first time was a little less than a year ago, what are some of the new things you are hoping to show fans with this current tour?

PJ: The biggest difference is the album we’re bringing with us this time. “THE GREATEST BATTLE” is the most fully realized version of who we are — the staging is larger, the storytelling is deeper, and the performances carry a weight that our earlier work was still building toward. Beyond the stage, we’re also putting a lot of thought into how we actually spend time with our PADOs here through events and activities where we can connect directly, not just perform and leave. We’ve felt that love from afar for a long time. Now we want to turn it into real, shared memories.

PT: What are some goals you have for the future of Big Ocean that would make you think, “Wow, we made it?”

Chanyeon: Honestly, there’s no single finish line we’re running toward. But if we ever perform in a place where the audience, hearing and deaf alike, is singing and signing along together, knowing every word and every gesture… I think that would feel like something. That kind of moment, where the music truly reaches everyone in the room without exception, that’s what we’re building toward.

PT: What are your favorite songs to perform? Is there a song or specific performance that has been most memorable to you?

Jiseok: “One Man Army” right now, without question. Performing it with twenty dancers, with the crane-wing formation, with the sign language tutting in full force, it’s a completely different level of energy from anything we’ve done before. You feel like a whole army on stage. But “Back” holds a special place for me too, because every hand sign in that choreography is a complete sentence. When you’re performing a story that actually happened to you, through a language that’s yours, there’s nothing quite like it.

PT: What can fans look forward to from Big Ocean in 2026?

PJ: We’ll never stop evolving, that much is certain. We want to explore bolder concepts, sharpen our performances even further, and keep finding new ways to make music that genuinely resonates. And we’re dreaming seriously about reaching more PADOs face to face, especially in Latin America and across Asia, where the support has moved us so deeply from afar. We want to close that distance. That’s a big part of what’s driving us right now.

PT: Is there anything you want to say to fans who may be reading?

Jiseok: We made this album because we’ve been through our own greatest battle and we’re still here because of you. Whatever battle you’re quietly fighting right now, we hope this music finds you and gives you just enough to keep going. You don’t have to win today. You just have to still be standing. That’s already everything. Fighting, PADO!

A Night to Remember

Big Ocean’s setlist engaged everyone, from dedicated fans to casual concertgoers. With performances ranging from popular covers like Ha Sungwoon’s OST “Fall In You,” to their most recent release “One Man Army,” the band delivered an unforgettable performance. Most notable were the fan engagement performances. PJ’s performance of his solo song “Sinking” was an exciting moment for PADO, as they called one lucky fan on stage to play the love interest part of the theatrical performance. 

Even without bringing fans on stage, Big Ocean succeeded in making every performance interactive for them. The group proceeded to include fans by teaching them choreography, urging fans to sing along to their popular lines. This proved that the main focus of their performances was to include all attendees in the fun. With their songs “Attention” and “brighT,” the band’s performances were all diverse, showcasing multiple sides of the group. No matter the sound, their theming was all cohesive. Their lyrics for most of their songs convey a sense of hope and ambition, which was inspiring to experience. 

Throughout all the engaging sets, one standout element from Big Ocean’s performances was their usage of sign language. They not only sing and dance to each song, but also include sign language as a key factor in their stages. Aside from Korean Sign Language, the trio has also worked hard to communicate through American Sign Language. Even through moments where translations were delayed, the members were able to take charge and express themselves regardless of language barriers.  Through these moments, Big Ocean demonstrated the embodiment of teamwork, and no moment felt lost in translation. 

Their show was remarkably inclusive for many attendees, and everyone felt represented in their own ways. Big Ocean not only have become a group rooted in representation, but have proved with this tour that they are not a group to be overlooked. Reflective of their interview, Big Ocean’s Chicago show at the Copernicus Center left PADO feeling hopeful, included, and excited for the next time they will see the group, an experience that accurately reflects the goals the group has in showing the world who they are. 

Are you seeing Big Ocean on tour? Let us know what stop you will be attending on our Instagram and Twitter/X!

FOLLOW BIG OCEAN ON THEIR SOCIALS

INSTAGRAM•TWITTER/X•YOUTUBE•TIKTOK

Feature Image Credit: Parastar Entertainment