Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals The Ways Her Personal Path Reflected Main Character's Story

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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents 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 come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

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

These were all components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", 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 a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

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 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 deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity 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 KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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