Korean American actress Arden Cho is celebrating the global success of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," which continues to maintain its strong position on the streaming platform's worldwide charts. The actress, who voices the character Rumi in what marks her first venture into voice acting, recently opened up about the unique challenges and rewards of bringing Korean culture to life through animation.
"The fact that 'KPop Demon Hunters' isn't just another animated film but one that captures Korean rhythm and culture makes it truly meaningful," Cho reflected on her experience working on the project. Despite being produced as an American animation in English, the film is deeply infused with Korean sensibility and cultural nuances that required careful attention to detail from the entire cast.
One of Cho's most significant challenges came from recording dialogue in Korean, a task that proved more demanding than she initially anticipated. "My Korean isn't perfect, so I was really worried – especially with words like 'honmun,' which were difficult to pronounce," she explained. The director maintained high standards throughout the recording process, demanding perfection to authentically capture the Korean essence of the characters. "The director didn't go easy on us and demanded perfection, which helped us capture that Korean feel. I was so grateful when Korean audiences recognized and appreciated that effort," Cho noted.
Cho's connection to K-pop culture runs deep, spanning multiple generations of the genre's evolution. "I grew up listening to H.O.T., Turbo, Fin.K.L, and S.E.S. You even see some of those older artists referenced in the film," she shared. Her musical influences extend to contemporary groups as well, including TWICE, aespa, and Girls' Generation. This extensive knowledge of K-pop culture also brought additional pressure to her performance. "Because I love K-pop so much, I also felt a lot of pressure – I kept worrying, 'Can I really capture this energy?'"
Despite her decade-long acting career, Cho chose to audition for the role of Rumi rather than rely on her established reputation. "Even though I've been acting for more than 10 years, I really wanted to audition for this role. The moment I read the script, I thought, 'I have to do this,'" she explained. The decision to audition felt like the most appropriate approach given the collaborative nature of the project, which involved multiple stakeholders from the director to Netflix executives. "Since so many people were involved in the decision, auditioning felt like the fairest and most comfortable way. I wanted to prove myself on such a big project."
The transition to voice acting presented its own unique set of challenges and discoveries for Cho. Initially, the experience felt awkward and uncomfortable as she had to perform alone while being observed by the production team. "It was strange and embarrassing to record alone while everyone was watching," she admitted. However, as she became more comfortable with the process, voice acting revealed unexpected benefits. "But the more I did it, the more fun it became. I didn't need hair and makeup, and I could act comfortably in casual clothes – it was a dream come true as an actor." The opportunity to watch the animation develop after each recording session added another layer of excitement to the experience.
Some scenes proved particularly challenging to execute effectively. Cho identified the kimbap eating scene as one of the most difficult moments to record. "The director had a very specific sound in mind, and I'd never done anything like it before. It had to be comedic, and that was really hard at first," she recalled. Romantic scenes with the character Jinu also presented unique difficulties, requiring her to synchronize voice, emotion, and visual elements while performing solo. In contrast, she found angry or comedic scenes much more manageable and enjoyable to perform.
Throughout the production process, Cho embraced opportunities to share Korean culture with her American colleagues. "Even in the U.S., I would take the staff out to Korean restaurants – for samgyeopsal, galbijjim, japchae, fried chicken, and chimaek," she said. Witnessing her coworkers' transformation from hesitant to enthusiastic about Korean cuisine brought her significant satisfaction. "It was so rewarding to watch them go from hesitant to enthusiastic about Korean food. I loved showing our culture with pride and confidence."
Certain scenes in the film resonated with Cho on a deeply personal level, connecting her to childhood memories and cultural experiences. A scene featuring Rumi visiting a traditional clinic reminded her of her own upbringing. "In one scene, Rumi goes to a traditional clinic, which reminded me of my childhood. I was often sick, and my mom would give me herbal medicine," she shared. The bathhouse scene also carried special significance, maintaining a distinctly Korean atmosphere despite being performed in English. "The bathhouse scene, too – even though the lines were in English, it carried a very Korean feel. Those details were so special and fun for me."
Building on the success of "KPop Demon Hunters," Cho is already preparing for her next project, which promises to further explore Korean cultural themes in a Hollywood context. Her upcoming film "Perfect Girl" will examine the highly competitive world of K-pop trainees while focusing on the psychological journeys of young women navigating this demanding industry. The cast includes Cho alongside actor-model Adeline Rudolph and singer Jeon Somi.
"The next film is a Hollywood project directed by a Korean filmmaker," Cho explained. "It's a beautiful story about women's emotional journeys set against the backdrop of K-pop." The screenplay for "Perfect Girl" has already garnered recognition in the United States, winning multiple awards and generating significant industry interest. "The script has already won multiple awards in the U.S., and I'm excited to share a piece of Korean pride with audiences around the world," Cho concluded, expressing her enthusiasm for continuing to bridge Korean and American entertainment cultures through her work.
