The NBC drama ‘Quantum Leap’ Season 2 aired an episode that takes viewers back to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The series follows the time-traveling adventures of physicist Dr. Ben Song, portrayed by actor Raymond Lee.
In the episode titled “One Night in Koreatown,” which premiered on November 1, Ben finds himself transported to April 29, 1992 — the day the verdict acquitting the white police officers responsible for beating black motorist Rodney King was delivered.
Upon arriving back in time, Ben lands in the body of 18-year-old Daniel Park, a first-generation Korean American teenager working in his father’s shoe store in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. “I remember watching the riots on TV — how unfair that verdict was to the Black community and how angry people were over it,” Ben confides to his holographic guide, Magic, as he acclimates to his new environment. “I remember the rooftop Koreans trying to protect their businesses … I can’t possibly be here to stop all that right?”
Magic reveals to Ben that during the riots, Daniel’s father, Jin Park, attempted to protect his shoe store, a decision that led to his untimely death. “Looks like you’re here to save him,” Magic informs Ben.
Through Ben’s interaction with Jin Park, the episode delves into the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and explores the strained relations between the Korean and African-American communities of the time, offering insight through diverse generational and cultural lenses.
As ‘Quantum Leap’ enters its second season, the decision to revisit the LA riots originated with Lee, who, after being asked by the show’s executive producers if there was a historical moment he wished to explore, suggested portraying the significant events of 1992 through the perspective of a Korean American in the chaos.
“[Lee] highlighted the LA uprising in 1992, envisioning the dramatization of that crucial juncture in American history from the viewpoint of a Korean American caught in the crossfire — recognizing the volatility of those six days and their enduring impact, not just on Koreatown, but nationwide,” said co-executive producer and episode co-writer Benjamin Raab.
Co-executive producer and co-writer of the episode, Deric A. Hughes, added, “It felt like it was too important of a story not to tell, considering our lead is Korean American who grew up in LA, and considering how seldom the Korean American narrative is represented on network television.”
BY SUAH JANG [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
