KPop Demon Hunters Star Reveals How Her Life Journey Reflected Protagonist's Experience

This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and stories from around the globe.

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years 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 girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, 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 was missing when in her youth.

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

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics 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, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

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

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

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

The film was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

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

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

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.

The actress says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

• Initiating discussions, building connections and challenging misinformation through features, investigations, interviews and extraordinary stories