Kage Cho: John Cho’s Son and His Private Life in 2025

Kage Cho is the eldest child of actors John Cho and Kerri Higuchi, born in May 2008. Now 16, he lives a carefully protected life in Los Angeles, raised with strong Korean-American values and deliberately kept out of Hollywood’s public eye by his parents.

Who Is Kage Cho?

Kage Cho is the son of John Cho—the actor known for Harold & Kumar, Star Trek, and Searching—and actress-turned-director Kerri Higuchi. Born in May 2008, he is the couple’s eldest child. Xmegle Despite having two parents deeply embedded in Hollywood, Kage has lived almost entirely outside public view.

People search for information about Kage primarily because of his father’s prominence. John Cho broke barriers as the first Asian-American lead in a mainstream romantic comedy (Selfie) and thriller (Searching). His cultural impact makes fans curious about his family life. Yet the Cho family has built a wall of privacy around their children that few celebrity families maintain.

Kerri Higuchi, Kage’s mother, appeared in films like Enough and Grey’s Anatomy before shifting to directing. She shares her husband’s commitment to keeping family life separate from professional work. Together, they’ve created an environment where their children can grow up without cameras, speculation, or unwanted attention.

Early Life and Family Background

Kage Cho was born in May 2008 in South Korea Cloud Magazine, giving him a meaningful connection to his father’s birthplace before the family moved to the United States shortly after. This detail mirrors John Cho’s own story—he was born in Seoul and moved to America at age six. The parallel creates a sense of cultural continuity across generations.

John Cho and Kerri Higuchi married in 2006 after meeting through entertainment industry connections. Their relationship has remained notably stable and private for Hollywood standards. In 2013, they welcomed their second child, a daughter whose name has never been publicly disclosed. This five-year gap between siblings allows them to share experiences while growing at different developmental stages.

The family lives in Los Angeles, where both parents work but maintain clear boundaries between career and home. Their household blends Korean traditions with everyday American routines. John has mentioned in interviews that his father was a minister who initially encouraged assimilation—no Korean language at home, maximum American television. John’s approach with his own children takes a different path: he wants them to understand and value their heritage while feeling fully American.

The Privacy Decision: Why Kage Cho Stays Out of the Spotlight

The most striking aspect of Kage’s life is his near-total absence from public spaces. You won’t find him on Instagram, TikTok, or any social platform. He doesn’t attend red carpet events, movie premieres, or industry parties with his parents. There are almost no paparazzi photos of him. This level of protection is unusual and deliberate.

John Cho has been explicit about this choice in interviews. “I want my kids to feel normal and safe and not like they’re under scrutiny,” he said in one conversation about fatherhood. The actor understands that celebrity children face unique pressures—comparison, expectation, loss of control over their own narrative. By keeping Kage out of public view, he and Kerri give their son the gift of a private identity.

Other celebrity children, including the son of John Cho, fill social media feeds and gossip columns. They attend premieres in designer clothes and develop public personas before finishing high school. The Cho family rejects this model entirely. When John talks about his kids in interviews, he shares general parenting anecdotes—humorous moments, universal challenges—but never specific details that would violate their privacy. No names of schools, no descriptions of personalities, no cute stories that could later embarrass them.

This approach has been remarkably successful. Media outlets respect the boundaries. Reputable publications focus on John Cho’s career achievements rather than pressing for family details. The result: Kage navigates his teenage years without the scrutiny that follows most children of famous actors.

Korean-American Heritage and Cultural Identity

John Cho’s background shapes how Kage is being raised. The elder Cho immigrated as a child, grew up in various American cities, and eventually built a career breaking Asian-American stereotypes in film. His success came from refusing to limit roles and pushing for authentic representation. These experiences inform his parenting.

Korean culture plays a clear role in the household. While specifics remain private, John has discussed wanting his children to understand their roots. This likely includes food, language exposure, stories about family history, and connections to Korean traditions. The goal isn’t to make them Korean or American—it’s to help them feel comfortable in both worlds.

This multicultural environment offers advantages. Kage grows up understanding that identity can be complex and layered. He sees his father navigate professional spaces as a Korean-American actor who often represents his community. He sees his parents balance assimilation with cultural preservation. These lessons create a foundation for his own sense of self.

The privacy his parents maintain also protects this process. Cultural identity development works best when children have space to explore without performance or judgment. Kage can figure out what Korean-American means to him personally, rather than having it defined by public commentary or media narratives about the life of John Cho.

John Cho’s Parenting Philosophy

John Cho has shared thoughtful reflections on fatherhood that reveal his values. One notable example: he’s mentioned waiting until Kage reaches certain ages before showing him some of his own films. This isn’t about shame—John is proud of his work—but about age-appropriateness and protecting his son from mature content before he’s ready.

This protective instinct extends beyond media choices. John’s parenting emphasizes hard work, developing a strong sense of self, and freedom to choose one’s own path. He doesn’t push his children toward entertainment careers, despite being the son of actors John Cho and Kerri Higuchi. He doesn’t use his kids for publicity or brand building. He treats fatherhood as the most important role he plays—more significant than any movie or television project.

In interviews, John talks about prioritizing consistency and normalcy. Celebrity status doesn’t change bedtime, homework, or family dinners. The kids have regular routines, attend regular schools, and deal with regular challenges. When asked about balancing work and family, John has made clear that family comes first. He turns down projects that would require extended time away or disrupt the household too much.

This philosophy reflects lessons from his own childhood. His father wanted him to assimilate quickly, to become American as fast as possible. John sees value in a different approach: helping his children develop authentic identities that honor multiple cultural threads while maintaining normal childhood experiences, much like the life of John Cho.

Growing Up as a Celebrity Child—The Benefits of Privacy

Research on child development suggests that privacy offers real advantages. Children who grow up under constant public scrutiny often struggle with anxiety, identity formation, and pressure to perform. They may develop a sense that their worth comes from external validation rather than internal values.

Kage avoids these pitfalls. He can make mistakes privately. He can try different interests, change his mind, and figure out who he is without thousands of strangers watching and commenting, allowing him to explore his future possibilities. His teenage years—already complicated—don’t include the added burden of public opinion about his appearance, behavior, or choices.

The media’s respect for these boundaries also matters. When outlets honor celebrity families’ privacy requests, they set a precedent. Paparazzi have largely left the Cho children alone. This isn’t guaranteed—some celebrity kids face constant harassment—but John and Kerri’s consistent stance has worked.

This protection allows Kage to build an identity separate from “John Cho’s son.” He’s a teenager with his own friends, interests, and personality. The public doesn’t know much about him, which means he controls his own narrative. When he eventually becomes an adult and decides what level of public presence feels right, he’ll do so from a position of strength rather than someone who’s been shaped by fame since birth.

Current Life: Education and Teenage Years

At 16, Kage is likely deep into high school. His parents haven’t disclosed which school he attends—another privacy protection—but Los Angeles offers many options. The focus appears to be on education, personal development, and typical teenage experiences.

What does “normal” look like for Kage, the eldest son of actors John Cho and Kerri Higuchi? Probably school days, homework, friend hangouts, maybe sports or other activities. He might drive now or be learning. He experiences the same social dynamics, academic pressures, and identity questions as other teenagers. The difference: his father is famous, but that fame doesn’t intrude on daily life.

John Cho has mentioned wanting his children to develop a work ethic and independence, values he hopes will guide his son Kage in the future. This suggests Kage wasn’t raised with Hollywood excess or entitlement. He likely has responsibilities at home, expectations about effort and achievement, and guidance about making good choices.

The absence of social media is notable. Most teens are extremely online—Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominate peer interaction. Either Kage uses these platforms privately with strict privacy settings, or his parents have helped him resist the pressure entirely. Either way, he avoids the public profile that causes problems for many celebrity children.

Friends probably know who his father is, but the family’s approach suggests they’ve normalized this reality for Kage, the son of John Cho. Kage isn’t “John Cho’s son” in his own life—he’s just Kage, a teenager with famous parents who happen to keep work and family separate.

Will Kage Cho Follow His Parents Into Entertainment?

This question fascinates people, but there’s no evidence that Kage has entertainment career plans. He’s 16, navigating the complexities of being the son of John Cho and Kerri Higuchi. Most teenagers haven’t finalized career decisions. The Cho family’s parenting philosophy suggests they support whatever path he chooses.

Growing up in a creative household exposed him to filmmaking, acting, storytelling, and the business of entertainment. He sees his father prepare for roles, discuss scripts, and navigate the industry. His mother works as a director, bringing a different creative perspective. This environment could inspire interest in film, television, or related fields.

But exposure doesn’t equal obligation. John and Kerri have been clear: their children should choose their own directions. There’s no pressure to continue the family business. No childhood acting roles, no industry connections being leveraged, no attempts to create opportunities Kage hasn’t asked for.

If he does eventually pursue entertainment, it will likely be on his own terms, after turning 18, and only if he genuinely wants that life. If he chooses something completely different—medicine, law, technology, teaching—his parents will presumably support that choice with equal enthusiasm.

The privacy his parents maintain now protects this future choice. If Kage enters entertainment later, he’ll do so as an adult with agency. If he doesn’t, he’ll never have to deal with being “the actor’s son who didn’t make it” or similar narratives that haunt some celebrity children.

The Future for Kage Cho

Kage will turn 18 in 2026. Adulthood brings new challenges and freedoms. He’ll need to decide how much public presence feels right. Will he maintain his parents’ privacy approach? Will he create social media accounts, give interviews, or step into public view as the son of John Cho? These choices will be his to make, reflecting the future possibilities that lie ahead as the son of actors John Cho and Kerri Higuchi.

The digital age makes privacy harder to maintain. Information spreads quickly. Photos taken by friends can end up online. College classmates might post about him. As an adult, he’ll need to navigate these realities himself rather than relying on parental protection.

His parents’ example offers guidance. John Cho maintains a professional public presence while keeping his personal life private, especially regarding his son Kage. He does interviews about his work, talks generally about parenting values, but never exploits his family for publicity. Kage could follow this model: engage publicly only when it serves his own goals.

Career possibilities remain wide open. He might pursue entertainment, following in the footsteps of his father, John Cho, who has a career in Hollywood. He might choose something entirely different. He might want nothing to do with public life or might eventually embrace it. The foundation his parents built—strong identity, cultural awareness, normal childhood experiences—prepares him for whatever comes next.

The story of Kage Cho is ultimately about parenting choices in an age of constant visibility. John Cho and Kerri Higuchi chose protection over publicity, normalcy over fame, and privacy over opportunity. They gave their son space to develop away from public scrutiny. As he moves toward adulthood, that gift becomes his to use however he sees fit.