Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Life Journey Mirrored Protagonist's Story

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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She 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 mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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 mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

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

The movie was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated 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 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 sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She tells us she would like to confirm the question 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 know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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