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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.
The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.
In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, 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 Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.
These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored the character's path.
"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.
"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."
When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.
She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.
"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.
But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".
"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.
So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.
The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.
As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."
Korean news sources have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.
As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice 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.
"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.
Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".
"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."
The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.
Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.
"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have some respect and desire for something real."
The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.
Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.
"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."
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