Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Shares How Her Personal Path Mirrored Main Character's Experience

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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

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

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," 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 reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

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

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding 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'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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