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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

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

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

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

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

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources 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, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element as one."

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

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

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

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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