Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals How Her Personal Path Reflected Protagonist's Story

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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature 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, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

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

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "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 she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

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

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

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

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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