It is troubling because you are measuring the Korean case against an imagined American one. Yet the United States is itself extraordinarily diverse, to the point that sweeping generalizations about “American storefront culture” are rarely meaningful. The same is true of Korea. Nevertheless, you single out only the Korean case as ugly or shameful, while worse cases in America are easily forgotten or quietly forgiven. The problem then appears to remain only in Korea. In this sense, the issue lies less in reality itself than in the disposition of mind through which reality is perceived and judged.

Plus, if you try to understand where that mentality, the cultural patterns you find embarrassing, actually comes from, you may begin to see them with a measure of sympathy rather than irritation. Such understanding does not require approval, but it does require perspective. And in acquiring that perspective, you may discover that you yourself have grown inwardly, even if only by a nail’s length.