From the group BTS to the groups Seventeen, Mamamoo, and BTOB, they used sign language as K-pop choreography on stage, giving deaf people the power to enjoy music without feeling left out.
'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)' released by BTS Jimin has recently become a hot topic online. As the official track video was released on YouTube, the song's choreography was also released, and the choreography using international sign language received public attention.
Jimin performed a choreography using sign language that symbolized 'L', 'O', 'V', and 'E' for each letter in line with the song's lyrics 'I love you babe', and was loved by the public at home and abroad. gave a favorable review about this. In particular, overseas fans said that it should be made clear that his gestures are different from accurate sign language, but praised him for "having a good heart" for bringing the sign language of the deaf to the surface.
Previously, BTS, of which Jimin belongs, became a hot topic by using international sign language in the choreography of 'Permission To Dance' in 2021. At that time, BTS strengthened the message they wanted to convey through the song by incorporating international sign language meanings of joy, dance, and peace into the chorus choreography. Among the sign language choreography, the motion of scratching the body with the thumb extended and the remaining fingers half-bent is 'fun', the motion of opening one palm and moving the two fingers of the other hand left and right is 'dancing', and making the letter V with both hands. The movement that is made means ‘peace’.
Accordingly, in July 2021, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), expressed his gratitude to BTS. He said, "I am grateful for the inclusion of sign language choreography in the music video for my new song 'Permission to Dance'. Sign language choreography is a great help to the 1.5 billion people around the world who suffer from hearing loss so that they can continue to enjoy music, which is the joy of life." “It will happen,” he said.
Former President Moon Jae-in, who appeared on ABC's 'Good Morning America', also mentioned this and gave a favorable review, saying, "The song is beautiful and the choreography is beautiful, but I think it conveyed the message of unity that transcends differences to people around the world."
In addition, there are several cases of using sign language choreography in K-pop. Seventeen received attention for using sign language choreography in ‘Thank You’ released in 2018. Among the songs in question, ‘We don’t change. It was revealed that the signature choreography of raising the little fingers of both hands in the lyrics 'Because it is engraved in each other's hearts' used a sign language meaning 'promise'.
Furthermore, member Boo Seung-kwan performed singer Kim Jin-ho's song 'Why is Mom's profile picture a flower garden?' live on the YouTube channel 'Dingo Music', directly conveying the message of the music through sign language. Regarding this, the public shared their thoughts, saying, “I didn’t know sign language was such a beautiful language before Seungkwan’s voice.”
The same goes for ‘Starry Night’, one of the group Mamamoo’s representative songs. Regarding this, Mamamoo Moonbyul said in a radio interview, "This stage was structured so that the lyrics could be inferred through the choreography," and "The choreography of the chorus lyrics of 'Starry Night' used sign language." He added, “I think it is meaningful because it is a choreography that uses actual sign language.”
In fact, in the highlight lyric of the song, 'Starry Night', Mamamoo created the choreography in the form of sign language with both hands, using the sign language 'star', which involves pinching the fingers together and then repeating the motion of stretching them out twice.
In the case of group BTOB's 2nd full-length album title song 'Missing You', choreographer Dubu announced that he personally used sign language. He said, "While searching for the opinions of BTOB members about adding sign language to the choreography, I was able to use the words 'missing', 'passing by', and 'one year' in the choreography. In particular, the song title 'Missing' 'The lyrics were expressed in a more choreographic way,' he said, explaining the background of coming up with the sign language choreography. In addition, they delivered sign language live through 'Dingo Music', creating even greater emotion.
One deaf fan commented on the live video, "I'm hearing impaired. I can't hear my brothers' voices, but I cried for three hours. Actually, I don't even know what the song is and what the melody is, but I'm happy. And thank you." He said sincerely.
Even if you are deaf, everyone has the same love for music. For those who enjoy music through the performance seen with their own eyes and the vibrations of the speakers vividly felt through their skin, sign language choreography will serve as a driving force to love music more deeply.
Lee Min-kyung, Ten Asia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr