KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals How Her Personal Path Mirrored Main Character's Experience

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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

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

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – 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 individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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