Mastering Korean Q&A: Finish Your Presentation Like a Pro!

Introduction

Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to a professional level!

Have you ever given a great presentation but felt awkward at the very end? In the world of business, the Conclusion and Q&A session are just as important as the opening. A strong finish can leave a lasting impression of competence and confidence.

Nowadays in Korea, the business trend is shifting towards “Smart Work” and efficiency. Long, dragging meetings are out; concise, clear, and interactive sessions are in. Especially with the rise of the “MZ Generation” in the workforce, Q&A sessions have become more active and direct. Today, we will learn how to handle questions professionally and wrap up your presentation with style, making you look like a true expert in any Korean meeting room!

Key Expressions for Q&A and Closing

Here are 3 essential high-level expressions to help you navigate the end of a formal presentation.

1. 경청해 주셔서 감사합니다. 질의응답 시간을 갖겠습니다.

• Pronunciation: [Gyeongcheonghae juseoseo gamsahamnida. Jiri-eungdap siganeul gatgetseumnida.]
• English Meaning: Thank you for your attention. We will now have a Q&A session.
• Detailed Explanation:
  • ‘경청(Gyeongcheong)’ means “listening attentively,” which sounds much more respectful and formal than simply saying “들어주셔서 (for listening).”
  • ‘질의응답(Jiri-eungdap)’ is the formal Sino-Korean word for “Q&A” (Question and Answer). Use this phrase to clearly signal the transition from speech to discussion.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Nasalization (비음화): Look at ‘합니다’. It is written as hap-ni-da but pronounced [ham-ni-da].
  • Rule: When a stop sound like ㅂ(p/b) is followed by a nasal sound like ㄴ(n) or ㅁ(m), the ㅂ changes to ㅁ(m) for easier pronunciation. So, don’t say “hap-ni-da” stiffly; say “hamnida” smoothly!

2. 그 부분은 추후에 검토하여 다시 말씀드리겠습니다.

• Pronunciation: [Geu bubuneun chuhue geomtohayeo dasi malsseum-deurigetseumnida.]
• English Meaning: I will review that part later and get back to you.
• Detailed Explanation:
  • This is a lifesaver when you receive a difficult question or don’t know the answer immediately. Instead of panicking, use this phrase.
  • ‘추후에(Chuhu-e)’ means “later” or “in the future” (more formal than 나중에).
  • ‘검토하여(Geomto-hayeo)’ means “after reviewing/examining.” It shows you take the question seriously.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Tensification (경음화): Look at ‘말씀’. It is written as mal-sseum and pronounced strongly as [mal-sseum].
  • H-Weakening: In ‘검토하여’, the ‘ㅎ’ sound is often weak. You might hear it flow like [geom-to-a-yeo] in fast speech, but in a formal presentation, try to articulate the ‘h’ gently.

3. 이상으로 발표를 모두 마치겠습니다.

• Pronunciation: [Isangeuro balpyoreul modu machigetseumnida.]
• English Meaning: I will conclude the presentation here. / This concludes my presentation.
• Detailed Explanation:
  • This is the standard, cleanest way to officially end your time on stage.
  • ‘이상으로(Isangeuro)’ effectively means “with this” or “that is all.”
  • ‘마치겠습니다(Machigetseumnida)’ expresses your volition to finish. It is polite and decisive.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Linking (연음): For ‘이상으로’, the ‘ㅇ(ng)’ sound in the patchim carries over to the empty ‘ㅇ’ in the next syllable. It sounds like [i-sang-eu-ro].
  • T-Stopping: In ‘겠(get)’, the ‘ㅆ’ acts as a ‘t’ stop sound before the ‘s’. So it’s machiget-seumnida.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real business setting.
(Context: Min-ji has just finished a presentation on a new AI marketing strategy. Director Kim asks a question.)

Min-ji: …따라서 이번 AI 전략이 매출 상승에 기여할 것입니다. 경청해 주셔서 감사합니다. 질의응답 시간을 갖겠습니다.
(…Therefore, this AI strategy will contribute to sales growth. Thank you for your attention. We will now have a Q&A session.)

Director Kim: 발표 잘 들었습니다. 그런데, 초기 예산이 조금 부족하지 않을까요? 요즘 투자 시장이 얼어붙어서 걱정입니다.
(I enjoyed the presentation. However, won’t the initial budget be a bit tight? I’m worried since the investment market is frozen these days.)

Min-ji: 네, 중요한 지적입니다. 예산 확보 방안에 대해서는 그 부분은 추후에 검토하여 다시 말씀드리겠습니다. 재무팀과 상의한 후 구체적인 수치를 공유하겠습니다.
(Yes, that is an important point. Regarding the budget security plan, I will review that part later and get back to you. I will share specific figures after consulting with the finance team.)

Director Kim: 알겠습니다. 기대하겠습니다.
(Understood. I look forward to it.)

Min-ji: 네, 감사합니다. 이상으로 발표를 모두 마치겠습니다.
(Yes, thank you. This concludes my presentation.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

📢 The “Smart Work” Culture and Q&A Etiquette

In the past, Korean presentations were very top-down, and junior staff often stayed silent during Q&A. However, the current trend in Korean companies is “Horizontal Communication” (수평적 소통).

1. Don’t fear the question: Nowadays, receiving questions is seen as a sign that the audience was engaged. If you get a tough question, don’t get defensive. Using the phrase “좋은 질문 감사합니다” (Thank you for the good question) before answering gives you a moment to think and shows professionalism.
2. Action Items: As seen in the dialogue, if you promise to “review it later” (추후에 검토)