SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Singer and actor Kim Jae-joong likens his past 20 years in the entertainment industry to a blossoming field of flowers.
“When I was young, the flowers – symbolising the love and support from my fans – seemed small and delicate. But over time, they formed a vast flower garden that motivated me to keep moving forward and create more glorious moments in my life,” he shared during an interview in Seoul on Tuesday, introducing his fourth LP, “Flower Garden.”
Set to release on Wednesday evening, the album arrives just in time for the 20th anniversary of Kim’s debut. He first entered the music scene in 2003 as a member of the iconic K-pop boy group TVXQ.
“I invested a lot in the physical production of ‘Flower Garden’ because I wanted it to be a collectible item, not just a ticket to my fan meet event,” Kim explained.
“This album encapsulates my musical journey since I began my solo career in 2013, showcasing my diverse vocal styles and the kind of music I can create as an artist.”
The 14-track album includes ten songs with lyrics written by Kim himself. The lead single, “Glorious Days,” celebrates the mutual love between Kim and his fans.
“This song expresses how my glorious days are when I receive love from my fans and also when I give them my love in return. My days are glorious thanks to my fans,” he said.
In April last year, Kim founded his own entertainment agency, iNkode, after departing from C-JeS Studios.
Reflecting on this new chapter, he stated, “The biggest change in recent years has been starting my own agency. Now, I can actively pursue individual projects and focus on what I truly want to do.”
Kim is also venturing into producing, working on a K-pop group with members of diverse nationalities. His ambition is to set new trends in the entertainment industry.
“With my two decades of experience, I can offer valuable advice to K-pop trainees and newcomers. I tell them that overcoming each barrier will extend their lifespan as artists,” he said. “My dream is to initiate a new trend in the K-pop industry with unique projects never seen before.”
In addition to his musical endeavours, Kim will embark on a fan concert tour, starting with performances in Seoul on July 20-21 at Jangchung Arena.
He will also star as the lead in MBN’s romance drama series “Bad Memory Eraser,” premiering on August 2.
