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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type 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 instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

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

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, 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 all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences 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 wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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