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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, 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, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

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

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was launched amid increased immigration raids 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," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

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 grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, 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 people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us as one."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans 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, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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