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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams 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 Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"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, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

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

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

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

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