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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

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

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, 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 her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

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

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

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

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"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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