Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals How Her Personal Path Reflected Protagonist's Story

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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world 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, 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 were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, 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 Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love 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 as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally 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 wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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