🔗 Share this article

This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist 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 people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She says 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 culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

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

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions 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 heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, 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 expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

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

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

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

• Initiating discussions, building connections and challenging misinformation through features, investigations, interviews and extraordinary stories