🔗 Share this article

This feature delves into remarkable conversations and stories from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist 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, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "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 expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

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

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

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

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice 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.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a film like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue 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 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 multiple songs from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

• Starting conversations, building connections and challenging misinformation through features, in-depth reports, interviews and remarkable accounts