Why is class consciousness strong in Korean society?

Why is class consciousness so strong in Korean society? As a middle-aged Korean woman living abroad with my family, I find it difficult to make Korean friends. Wealthier friends judge me based on my appearance, despite not putting in as much effort or money into it as they do. Less wealthy friends have high expectations of me due to the different way of life I lead. Owning a house, having a professional career, international experience, etc., all contribute to their expectation that I should treat them specially. This is something I have not experienced in other cultures. When I visited Seoul, seeing luxury cars parked in humble neighborhoods, women carrying Chanel bags on the subway, made me think that the obsession with class and social status in Korean society is pathological. I found it relatively easy to converse with people of other nationalities, but when speaking with Koreans in Korean, it feels like walking on a minefield. This also happens when chatting in KakaoTalk group chats. Even when I share something as simple as a joke, the other person often interprets it as a subtle criticism about status. Going through these experiences repeatedly, I become confused whether I am overreacting. What are your thoughts on class consciousness in Korean society?