KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Life Journey Reflected Protagonist's Experience

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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings shapes who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress says she is aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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