From SM Trainee to Rumi’s Voice: How Andrea “Ejae” Cho Sparked the K‑Pop Voice Acting Trend
- Disha Paul
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Did you know that the voice behind Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters breakout character, Rumi, is a former SM Entertainment trainee?
Andrea “Ejae” Cho didn’t debut in a K-pop girl group—but she still became a star.
Instead of performing on stage, she helped create the music we love. Now, she’s gone viral again, this time as Rumi’s singing voice and co-writer of the hit soundtrack.
Yes, that emotional high note in “Golden”? That’s Ejae.
Who Is Andrea “Ejae” Cho?
Andrea Cho, also known professionally as Ejae, is a South Korean-American singer, songwriter, and producer best known for her work behind the scenes in the K-pop industry. Before taking center stage in animation, Ejae trained under SM Entertainment and later studied music business and songwriting at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.
Over the past few years, she has written songs for top acts such as Red Velvet, TWICE, aespa, Le Sserafim, and NMIXX.
From K‑Pop Songwriter to Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters
In 2025, Netflix released the animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters, and Ejae made headlines as the singing voice of Rumi, the lead character. She didn’t just perform the vocals—she also co-wrote major songs on the official soundtrack, including:
“Golden”
“How It’s Done”
“Your Idol”
The moment fans heard “Golden,” many recognized Ejae’s distinctive tone—some even before the credits rolled.
How Ejae Got the Role Without Auditioning
While working on early demo versions of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, Ejae recorded temporary vocal tracks for Rumi. But her emotional delivery and vocal presence stood out so much that the film’s producers decided to cast her permanently—no audition required.
The Viral Rise of the “K‑Pop Voice Acting” Trend
Following the film’s release in June 2025, a new trend emerged on social media: K-pop voice acting. Clips of Rumi singing went viral on TikTok and YouTube, with hashtags like #KpopVoiceActing, #RumiGolden, and #EjaeVoice gaining traction.
According to Google Trends, search interest in:
“Voice actor for Rumi”
“Andrea Cho Golden”
“Kpop voice acting career” all spiked significantly in late June.
This crossover of K-pop and animation struck a chord with fans—and opened new doors in the industry.
Other K‑Pop Stars in the Film
Andrea “Ejae” Cho wasn’t the only K-pop talent featured in KPop Demon Hunters. The film’s unique casting combined real-life idols, actors, and musicians, including:
Ji-young Yoo (voice of Zoey)
May Hong (voice of Mira)
Ahn Hyo-seop (voice of Jinu, previously trained at JYP)
Lee Byung-hun (voice of villain Gwi-Ma)
However, Ejae stood out as the rare example of a K-pop songwriter becoming a character’s voice.
How to Become a Voice Actor in K‑Pop Animation Like Ejae?
Inspired by Ejae’s story? Here’s a quick guide on how to get started in K-pop-related voice acting:
Train vocally: Learn both singing and character emotion delivery.
Take voice acting workshops: Many Korean and global platforms now offer voice acting courses.
Build a demo reel: Include both spoken and sung lines in different moods.
Network with creative teams: Especially those involved in OSTs, anime, or K-pop animations.
Learn languages: Korean, English, or Japanese proficiency is a plus for voice-over roles.
Final Thoughts
Andrea “Ejae” Cho didn’t debut on stage, but she became the voice that fans can’t forget. From writing for Red Velvet to bringing Rumi to life, she’s sparked a movement that could reshape the K-pop industry.
Comment down below if you want a separate post to guide you on this journey to becoming a K-pop voice actor!
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