Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Personal Path Reflected Protagonist's Experience

This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and stories from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

• Initiating discussions, fostering relationships and challenging misinformation through features, in-depth reports, interviews and remarkable accounts