The word is in entertainment a lot. Outside the context of slavery, it still triggers me. For example, I'm watching a show called Gyeongseong Creature, and characters keep saying "Master Jang." (A protagonist.) He's an ultra rich guy who owns a pawn shop. He's constantly acknowledged as if he's an authority figure. I don't have enough context about Korean culture to understand when and why people get the label "Master." It just sucks to hear.
It would help if hearing "master" and observing severe sucking up didn't feel so visceral.
I'm not familiar with the Korean context, but I'm guessing it's not too far from the Chinese "sifu" - which is also often translated as "master", but it's moreso "mentor" or "teacher". Someone who is skilled in a trade and is teaching someone their skills
Edit: there's also usually an element of this person as a bit of a surrogate parent. A lot of the service the apprentice does for this person will have a tone of filial piety
As far as desensitizing goes - how do you feel about getting really into martial arts movies?
"Sifu" sounds SO much better. I like the word. I'll try and see Master Jang as "Korean Sifu Jang"
Martial arts movies would be fun. Last one I watched was Ip Man.
It felt fine to hear "Master Oogway" in the animation Kungfu Panda because he had a highly exaggerated sifu aesthetic and voice to him. He was undeniably a sifu.