KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Personal Path Reflected Main Character's Story

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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she 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 Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These were all components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent 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 really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from 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 world and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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