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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

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

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

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

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading 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 demanding a sequel.

She reveals 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 produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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