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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were components of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings shapes 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 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

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

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

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 kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

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

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us 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 make a film like the animation.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

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

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