Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals How Her Life Journey Mirrored Main Character's Story

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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging 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 accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty 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," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress says 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 Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

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

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"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 advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

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

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

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

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