Arden Cho on 'KPop Demon Hunters', Embracing Her Korean Heritage, and Future Aspirations

Arden Cho, as candid and delightful as her character Rumi in 'KPop Demon Hunters', recently shared her love for the trending Korean dessert 'Dubai Chewy Cookies', which she enjoys by the dozen. I met with her last month on the 30th in Gangnam, Seoul.

Arden Cho voices the lead character Rumi in the Netflix animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters'. Despite it being her first voice acting role, she left a strong impression by delicately expressing the character's emotions and personality. Her ability to naturally convey Korean cultural nuances and humorous details has been praised for enhancing the film's immersion.

Cho was cast through an audition, initially auditioning for the role of Celine. She recalled, "I was contacted saying my voice suited Rumi better and asked if I could take on that role. I was surprised and, of course, thrilled." She later learned from the director that casting was challenging, as the character required a wide range of emotions. "It was a huge gift of an opportunity for me," she said.

As a Korean-American, Arden Cho's identity greatly aided her portrayal of Rumi. She shared, "There were times when I felt unsure of who I was. Born in America, yet I always felt a connection to being Korean." She continued, "In America, I was often told I needed to appear more American to succeed as an actor, even advised to change my last name from 'Cho'. But I never wanted to do that. I am Cho, and I am Korean. As a Korean-American, I want to succeed as an actor in America and open doors for others like me."

Her shared experiences with Rumi provided a foundation for more vivid acting. Cho revealed, "I faced a lot of racism growing up. Despite being born in America, people would tell me to 'go back to my country', even physically assaulting me. I ended up in the hospital about three times." She added, "Rumi also hides her true self, which reminded me of my past when I couldn't live as myself."

Cho, wiping away tears, said, "I've been acting for over 20 years and never thought I'd have a moment like this in my career." She expressed, "This is why I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to showcase Korean characters in America, but there weren't any such roles. Working on this project brought back memories of my childhood and was healing. It gave me new strength and passion."

Cho's affection for Korea has been longstanding. She began her acting career at 18 and first encountered Korean films as a college student. "I loved 'A Moment to Remember' and am a big fan of Son Ye-jin. I also enjoyed the drama 'Thirty-Nine'. In America, it was hard to access Korean works. I received a DVD of 'A Moment to Remember' as a gift, and even after 20 years, I still have it," she shared.

Though American, Arden Cho boasts fluent Korean, thanks to frequent travels between Korea and the U.S. "I've been visiting Korea often for the past 4-5 years, spending most vacations here. Growing up, I didn't have many opportunities to visit Korea and barely spoke Korean. Now, I'm continuously learning, and my Korean improves whenever I'm here," she said.

Following 'KPop Demon Hunters', Cho has gained a younger fanbase. "I often get requests to send video messages to kids. I can't refuse when they say the kids love it," she laughed. "I tell them things like 'Study hard. Let's meet someday.' Friends' kids listen when they hear 'Rumi said so'. It's fun and fascinating."

Cho also has notable connections with K-pop stars. She collaborated with singer and actor Cha Eun-woo on a duet cover of 'Free' from 'KPop Demon Hunters'. "Cha Eun-woo reached out first, saying he enjoyed 'KPop Demon Hunters', which naturally led to the cover content," she explained.

Regarding the recent controversy surrounding Cha Eun-woo, Cho expressed regret. Cha Eun-woo posted an apology on social media on the 26th of last month regarding a 20 billion won(approximately $13.71 million) tax evasion allegation. Cho's supportive comment on the post drew criticism. "It was a personal gesture of support, not an endorsement of his actions. I regret that my private sentiments became public. I promise to be more cautious in the future," Cho's side stated.

"I've dreamed of working on Korean projects for over 20 years. I don't want to take it lightly; I want to take on truly great projects. I believe that day will come." Arden Cho is currently reviewing scripts primarily for domestic projects. "I have offers from American productions, but I want my next project to be Korean," she said. "I'm not in a rush. I want to enjoy this time and carefully choose my next step."

Kim Ji-won, TENASIA Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr