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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

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

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "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 she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"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 this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, 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 should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

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

Cho says she is aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

She 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 platform or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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