A teaser for singer-actor Kim Jae-joong's new album, "Flower Garden" / Courtesy of iNKODE

How far can a K-pop singer expand his or her career horizon?

Those seeking an answer to this question should turn to Kim Jae-joong, who currently juggles multiple balls as a solo artist, actor and producer of a new K-pop group. Using his two decades of experience in the entertainment world, the 38-year-old has been ceaselessly pushing his envelope by taking on new challenges.

"In hindsight, I did face some big waves in my life, but managed to endure them," Kim recalled during a media interview at the headquarters of his agency, iNKODE Entertainment, in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday.

"I sometimes pat myself on the shoulder ... I do not want to regret the choices I have made to date and I believe I cannot erase my past. What I can do is to cover it up with good memories and learn from the past to become a better person."

After debuting as part of SM Entertainment's boy band TVXQ in 2003 under the stage name Hero Jaejoong, Kim rose to stardom in Korea and Japan with the group's mega-hits such as "Rising Sun" (2005) and "Mirotic" (2008).

In 2009, Kim, along with two other TVXQ members, Kim Jun-su and Park Yoo-chun, departed from the act amid a legal dispute with SM Entertainment over their exclusive contracts, citing they were coerced into signing excessively long "slave contracts." The trio subsequently formed the new group JYJ in 2010 and Kim later launched his solo career in 2013 with the mini-album "I."

With unparalleled vocal prowess and captivating stage presence, Kim has established himself as a solo artist in recent years. His music spans diverse genres from rock to pop, resonating deeply with listeners and capturing their hearts.

However, the ambitious singer didn't stop there. Last year, he founded his own label, iNKODE, and assumed the role of the company's Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). Shortly after its inception, he initiated a global search for aspiring singers who will form a new K-pop group slated for debut this year.

Singer-actor Kim Jae-joong poses during a media interview at the headquarters of his agency, iNKODE Entertainment in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday. Courtesy of iNKODE

"I really like who I am right now," Kim said. "I love the fact that I can express myself freely. In the past, I had to smile even when I was sad, and I was overly conscious of the things that surrounded me. But last year, I finally felt a sense of liberation after learning about my true self ... Simply put, I am a person who values balance."

On Wednesday, Kim will drop his fourth full-length album, "Flower Garden," marking the 20th year since his debut. According to him, it's "a well-balanced album" that includes songs from various genres and vibes.

"I love flowers, so I attempted to use it as a symbol for my fresh release," he explained. "A big garden adorned with a lot of flowers looks glamorous, but I learned that even just one flower can impress others. I am aware of the value of both of them because I have undergone different phases in my career as a group and a soloist. This time, I wanted to express my love and feelings through flowers."

Leading the album is "Glorious Day," a tune dedicated to people who have been supporting Kim for 20 years.

"At first, its lyrics contained some religious elements," he revealed. "But as a non-religious person, I tried to recall my own glorious days and concluded that I should write lyrics about people who have been on my side for the past 20 years. I want to show them appreciation."

A teaser for singer-actor Kim Jae-joong's new album, "Flower Garden" / Courtesy of iNKODE

"Flower Garden" also carries 13 other songs including, "Good News," "Dream Party," "The Light," "Tru Love Tru Lies" and "Dopamine."

"It's an album resembling myself," Kim noted.

Shortly after rolling out "Flower Garden," Kim — who made his acting debut in 2009 with the Korean-Japanese film, "Heaven's Postman" — is poised to return to the small screen with a new drama tentatively titled, "Bad Memory Eraser."

He will take the role of a man who erases his past to start a new life, with actress Jin Se-yeon playing opposite him. It has taken seven years for Kim to star in a TV series since his appearance in "Manhole: Wonderland's Pil" in 2017.

His first K-pop group is also scheduled to debut later this year. Kim held a series of auditions around the world and discovered some hidden gems, but he said he could not find "the next Kim Jae-joong."

"I know there are some singers from other agencies who look similar to me," he said, referring to Taeyong of boy group NCT and Sungchan of RIIZE, both of whom are represented by his previous agency SM.

"But I could not find one for my own group," Kim said with a playful smile, adding that he had reasons for launching this group.

"I hope it can fulfill the dream that I could not realize on my own due to my weaknesses," he said. "But that does not mean I will simply back off. Instead, I will work hard to do whatever I can do to in my own field while striving to provide a good environment for our members so that they can be successful."