Here's an audio documentary in two parts from CBC Radio's Ideas, on being and becoming Canadian, and the experiences of one Korean family.

I know what the rationale behind it was, and understand that many Koreans really think that sort of stuff is spiffy, and are drawn to shop somewhere that shows that kind of rigorous employee-indoctrination methodology, but it was still deeply, excitingly Weird.

It would seem that Korea has invented, parallel to the sitcom laughtrack machines in the West, a Schoolgirl Howl Machine.

Piled on the edge of the curb was a mountain of garbage. This was the detritus for a number of shops and 'love hotels' and restaurants and low-rise apartments in the immediate vicinity over the last day or two.