KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Life Journey Reflected Protagonist's Story

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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These were all aspects of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings 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 established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent 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 Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, 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 "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

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

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

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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