[Arts & Culture] Disabled Persons' Day: Artists breaking boundaries 

장애와 비장애를 넘어 예술은 모두가 즐기고 할 수 있는 것
Time now for our weekly Arts and Culture segment.
We have our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin in the studio.
Good evening.
Good evening.
What do you have for us today?
Jung-min, I think we're all familiar with the rigorous training K-pop groups have to endure before they debut.
Behind the dazzling performances we see on stage there are countless hours of practice, sweat, and tears.
The level of dedication these artists show truly deserves admiration.
This week, I had the privilege of speaking with a K-pop group whose passion and commitment have already begun to inspire others, even before their official debut
Let's first take a look.
"Attention, we are BIG OCEAN! Nice to meet you!"
The name "BIG OCEAN" reflects their desire to spread hope and positivity, like the feeling you get when gazing at the ocean.
All three members, Jiseok, Hyunjin, and Chanyeon have hearing impairments.
Jiseok was born with a disability, while Hyunjin and Chanyeon experienced partial hearing loss at a young age.
They can hear with the help of hearing aids and cochlear implants, but singing and dancing require a whole new level of perseverance and dedication.
"We all interpret the bounce, feeling, and beat of a song differently, so it was a bit chaotic at first. Trying to harmonize with each other was challenging, but we worked hard to find a way to blend our differences together."
"Since I have difficulty hearing, learning a new song from scratch is tough. So, I keep listening to it repeatedly to become more familiar with it. Even then, it can be a struggle to grasp the beat correctly and match the tone and volume of the other members. In those cases, our staff helps out."
After a year and a half of training, they're debuting with their single "Light," a remake of first-generation K-pop boy group H.O.T.'s song of the same title.
Their disabilities don't hinder their performances, thanks to cutting-edge technology like light and vibrating metronomes.
With these, mastering K-pop's synchronized, sophisticated dance moves is not a problem.
"We first converted the sound into a beat vibration through the smartwatch and also, we synced it to the flashing light so that they can see the screen and feel the music with the flashing lights.
In this way, they were able to feel the music more clearly and they later tried to come up with some grooves and bounces too."
What sets BIG OCEAN apart isn't just their historical debut as the first K-pop group where all members have hearing impairments.
They're also inspiring change.
"Even with cochlear implant surgery, keeping up with the rhythm and hitting the right pitch is challenging. I think BIG OCEAN's incredible efforts will prove that disabilities don't confine the realm of arts, especially singing."
That's exactly what BIG OCEAN hopes to do: show that music is for everyone, and passion knows no limits.
"We hope to inspire not only those with hearing impairments but also anyone with a disability.
We hope we can encourage them to chase their dreams without hesitation."
Yoo-jin, I'm sure many of our viewers are now curious: when exactly is BIG OCEAN's debut?
Well, the wait is almost over.
The boys are debuting tomorrow, which happens to be Disabled Persons' Day in Korea.
They'll be hitting the stage for the first time on local broadcaster MBC's music show, "Show! Music Core."
But that's not all that's happening tomorrow.
Cheong Wa Dae, Korea's former presidential compound, is hosting a concert featuring the "Hearts of Vision Chamber Orchestra," made up of musicians with visual impairments.
Plus, an exhibition showcasing around 30 artworks by artists with disabilities is currently on at Cheong Wa Dae until tomorrow.
I see, that's great.
And as tomorrow is Disabled Persons' Day, could you tell us a bit about how much arts and culture are accessible for those with disabilities here in Korea?
Change is happening, such as the establishment of a law that supports cultural and art activities for people with disabilities.
More museums, art galleries, and cinemas are installing barrier-free kiosks and seats to ensure that everyone, regardless of disability, can enjoy the arts.
However, there's still much room for improvement.
For instance, some theaters or concert halls only provide designated seating for the disabled in the very front or back rows, which may not be the best view.
For Korea to become more inclusive, there needs to be greater exposure to and understanding of disabilities.
That's why we're hoping to see more trailblazers like BIG OCEAN in the future.
Absolutely.
Thank you Yoo-jin for your report today.
My pleasure.
#Art #Disabled_Persons_Day #Disability #Hearing_impairment #Kpop #BIGOCEAN #장애인의날 #장애 #청각_장애 #빅오션 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스
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2024-04-19, 18:00 (KST)