Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Shares How Her Personal Path Mirrored Protagonist's Story

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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful 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 movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These were all components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams 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 Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested 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 came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants 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 singers. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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