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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

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

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, 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 experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society 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 KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

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

The actress says she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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