🔗 Share this article

This feature explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

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 part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

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

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of 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 young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie 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 the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States 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. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from 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 should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

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 the animation.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

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

• Starting conversations, fostering relationships and challenging misinformation through features, investigations, conversations and extraordinary stories