🔗 Share this article

This feature explores remarkable conversations and stories from around the globe.

"{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 portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

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

"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 Netflix charts in dozens of nations. 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 established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was launched amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

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

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 removed.

As an adult, she 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 meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, 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 something to unite us 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 the animation.

The actress says she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding 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 await the platform or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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