NEW BLOG TO POKE FUN AT KOREANS; BE FUNNIER THAN MARGARET CHO

A satirical English-language blog, based in Seoul, South Korea, will aim to bring an American-style sense of humor to the humor-deprived country. The blog—which will poke fun at Koreans on both sides of the divided peninsula—will officially launch next week, according to those familiar with the project.

Margaret Cho

American founder Brent Schanding, who will temporarily relocate to an outlying area of Seoul, said the often humor-less depictions of the Asian nation have created a strong need for such an outlet. 

"Plus, I'll likely have a lot of free time, and I hear there's not really much on Korean TV," he said. "I've seen that Crouching Tiger movie a few times, so I pretty much know everything there is about Korean culture. It should be pretty easy to start this thing, because I already have an email account—and that's really all you need to start blogging."

Schanding said the blog will be called "Seoul Asylum," a not-so obscure reference to the American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, whose 1992 Grammy-award winning hit "Runaway Train" has nothing to do with the culture or people of South Korea.

"But I kind of like the word asylum because it denotes this type of political immunity from extradition that I hope the most offended Koreans will grant me," he said. "Asylum...asy-LUM...ASY-lum. If you say it often, it kind of sounds funny!"

When asked if the satirical blog could inadvertently fuel escalating tensions between the North and South, Schanding appeared miffed. 

"I don't really read newspapers—they're very negative," he said. "Why? Is there something going on over there?"

Schanding hopes his blog will have at least 23 fans—that's one more than Korean-American comedian Margaret Cho can claim, he said. 

The blog can be viewed at:  http://seoulasylumblog.blogspot.com/.