By Pyo Kyung-min/TheKoreaTimes

Jay Park is back in the music scene with his sixth full-length album, "The One You Wanted," a 20-track collection that spans nearly a decade of his creative work.

At a listening event in Seoul last Tuesday, the singer introduced the album to the press, explaining that the project merges his previous singles and older unreleased tracks.

"Eleven tracks were released before, but I've added nine new ones," Park said. "I wrote and composed all of these songs myself, and each one means a lot to me. I just want as many people as possible to hear them."

The new album is Park's first in more than five years, following 2019's "The Road Less Traveled," and his first R&B release since 2016's "Everything You Wanted," which featured the international hit "All I Wanna Do."

The 37-year-old artist revealed that the album's lengthy development period reflects his artistic journey. The tracks encompass years of work, with some written during the COVID-19 pandemic and others dating back as far as seven years.

"Many artists worry that older songs may sound dated," he said. "But I'm proud of my music and confident in what I've created, which is why I'm releasing songs that I worked on many years ago."

"The One You Wanted" includes three title tracks — "Gimme A Minute," "Mayday," and "Piece Of Heaven" — with the lead single, "Gimme A Minute," featuring Chungha, an artist from Park's agency, More Vision. The track is a retro dance-pop R&B number that Park believes will resonate most with listeners.

"I think this song will be the standout track out of the 20 songs. It's funky, fast-paced, and has a lot of pop elements," Park said. "It might remind people of Michael Jackson, Usher, or Justin Timberlake. I haven't had the chance to perform with Chungha before, but I thought this collaboration would be something special."

During the event, Park addressed questions about his bold stage performances, known for their rather provocative appeal.

"I know that a lot of people expect me to show some skin when I perform, and if I don't, it could lead to some negative reactions," Park said. "But while sexy performances are one way to entertain, I don't want to rely on them."

Although Park acknowledged that audiences still react most strongly to his performances that highlight his physique, he made it clear he's more interested in being remembered for his music.

"I've released so many songs, but the public always seems to focus on the performances that emphasize my body," he said. "But I don't want that to be the only reason people pay attention to me. I hope that once they're drawn in, they stay for the music."