Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals The Ways Her Personal Path Mirrored Main Character's Experience

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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and it seems I just didn't see 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 top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe 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 Cho admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The movie was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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