November 19th 2025.
In a recent interview, Arden Cho, the star of the popular Netflix show "KPop Demon Hunters", opened up about her relationship with her Asian-American identity. Despite her success now, Cho revealed that she struggled with her appearance while growing up, wishing she had blue eyes and blonde hair instead of her Asian features.
As the daughter of Korean immigrants, Cho was raised in Texas and often felt like she didn't fit in with the American standard of beauty. She shared that she felt like the wrong answer to the question of what it meant to be beautiful in America. This feeling was further reinforced by the fact that she was constantly treated as an outsider, despite feeling American at heart.
However, when Cho first read the script for "KPop Demon Hunters", something clicked for her. The animated series, which follows a girl band on a mission to save the world, resonated with her personal struggles. Cho's character, Rumi, mirrored the push-and-pull she had experienced for years.
Cho went on to explain that there were times where she "hated looking Asian", and that she had spent parts of her life wishing she could be someone else. As a child, she didn't see enough representation of people who looked like her, which shaped her perception of herself. But with the success of "KPop Demon Hunters", Cho has become a role model for Korean-American kids who now have someone who looks like them at the center of their favorite media.
The film's popularity, with 33 million views in two weeks and Top 10 rankings in 93 countries, has brought Cho into the spotlight as a representation of Korean identity. She credits the wider Korean cultural wave, including K-beauty and K-pop, for helping to shift perceptions and showcase the beauty of Korean culture.
However, Cho also acknowledges the challenges of being a part of a predominantly Asian cast, as these projects are often treated as a financial risk. She believes that this attitude needs to change, especially in light of the current political climate where immigrants are facing persecution and discrimination.
As the child of Korean immigrants, Cho is personally affected by the current immigration policies and the estimated 150,000 undocumented Korean immigrants who could face deportation. This hits close to home for her and adds to the importance of representation and diversity in media.
Perhaps that is why "KPop Demon Hunters" has resonated with so many viewers. Cho believes that people were looking for something unifying, and the neon-soaked, demon-fighting K-pop adventure provided just that. With seven soundtrack tracks charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and fans creating fan art on social media, the demand for a sequel is strong. While Cho has heard "wonderful things" about a possible sequel, the decision ultimately lies with Netflix and Sony.
In the meantime, Cho continues to use her platform to speak out about issues that are important to her. She encourages others to share their stories and is always open to hearing from fans and readers. Whether it's a celebrity story, video, or pictures, Cho and her team at The Agency are always happy to hear from their audience.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
