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This exclusive piece delves into remarkable conversations 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," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The film was launched 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 Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future 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 performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe there will be AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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