South Korea - Cross Cultural Quiz

1. Which of these religions has an influence over Korean culture and values?

Buddhism

Confucianism

2. How do Koreans greet one another?

Rub noses

Shake hands

Slight bow

3. Maintaining eye contact is considered good etiquette.

True

False

4. When meeting a Korean on business, how should you address them?

With title and surname

With firstname

With surname

5. When receiving a business card you should do so with...

Both hands

Right hand only

Left hand propped up with right hand

6. Putting business cards into a pocket is considered rude.

True

False

7. Gifts are exchanged in business as...

Bribes

A way of opening negotiations

A way of cementing relationships

8. When reciprocating in gift giving, what should you do?

Make sure the gift you give in return is more expensive.

Make sure the gift you give in return is of equal value/worth.

9. If you were to buy a Korean one of these gifts, which would be the most suitable?

Business stationery

Craft item from your own country

Chocolates
10. When receiving a gift it is good etiquette to...

Kiss the givers right shoulder

Refuse it three times

Accept it with the left hand while shaking hands with the right

Cross Cultural Quiz

1. There are three of you interviewing an Afghani man for a position in your company. Of the interviewers,
two of you are women. The interviewee only ever gives eye contact to the man and never to the women.
This is because:

He is nervous around women

He is showing respect to the women

2. In Spain, the main purpose of a business meeting would be to:

Make decisions by discussing in the length the pro’s and con’s of an issue

Reach agreements by consensus

Brief the team on a decisions already taken

3. You asking a question of a junior Japanese colleague and he/she looks down and answers you. He/she :

Has something to hide and is looking for answer to cover their back

Is paying your respect

4. Your German colleague says about a proposal you have put together, “no offense, but this idea is
ridiculous.” He/she :

is merely expressing their opinion and means no harm

is being blunt and has no etiquette

is being rude to undermine your position

5. You are making a proposal to a group of Japanese executives when you notice a few of them sat with
their arms folded and eyes closed. They are:

Listening intently

Tired and catching up on some sleep

Pretending to be asleep to show you that they think your presentation is poor

6. A potential Mexican client arrives 45 minutes late for a business meeting. He/she:

Has arrived late on purpose to show that they are the party in the driving seat

Has simply arrived late as punctuality is taken lightly in Mexico

 Has arrived late to let you enjoy your surroundings before discussing business

7. During a break for a meeting between you and a group of Saudis, you walk into the men’s room to find a
few of them washing their feet in the sink. You think:

They must have had smelly feet

They are simply freshening themselves up

Are preparing to read their prayers

8. You are beginning negotiations with a Chinese company. From the start of the meeting the Chinese team
show great humility and deference. You should think:

Such behaviour is a ploy designed to gain concessions

Such behaviour is just the way Chinese people are

Such behaviour shows these negotiations will be easy

9. While in South Korea, you present a gift to a new client to thank him for his hospitality and to cement
your business relationship. He/she refuses to accept the gift. You should:

Apologise for offending him/her

Insist he/she takes it until it is accepted

Offer it to someone else from his/her company

10. You are the new manager in an Indian office. You ask one of your supervisors to move a desk and place
it in another corner of the office. The next day you notice it has not yet been done. Why?

The supervisor was offended you asked him/her and refused to do anything about it

The supervisor could not find a labourer to move it and would not do so him/herself

Because things get done slowly in India