🔗 Share this article

This feature delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

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

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

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage 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 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 uncertain and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware 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 AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

• Starting conversations, building connections and challenging misinformation through features, investigations, interviews and extraordinary stories