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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.
Cho, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.
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 true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.
"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.
These were all components of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.
"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.
"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."
When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.
She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.
"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.
But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".
"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.
So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.
The film was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.
As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."
Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, 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 many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.
"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.
Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".
"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."
The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like the animation.
Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.
"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."
KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.
She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.
"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."
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