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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and stories from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes 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.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, 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 "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel 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 adds.

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

As an Asian-American 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 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading 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 sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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