V+기란 : as for (the one that is called) (someone) doing something V는 건 : (for someone) to do something Both have same meaining. 기란 emphasize the subject more than 는 건. 옛날에는 여자가 취직하기란 하늘의 별따기였다. In old times, as for a woman getting a job, it is almost impossible. 옛날에는 여자가 취직하는 건 하늘의 별따기였다. In old times, it is almost impossible for a woamn to get a job. 취직하기란 is a contractive form of 취직하기라고 하는 것은 취직하는 건 is a colloquial contractive form of 취직하는 것은 (이)란 a contractive form of (이)라고 하는 것은 e.g. 사랑이라는 것은 → 사랑이란 친구라는 것은 → 친구란 사랑이란 무엇일까요? = As for love, What is it? 사랑은 무엇일까요? = What is love? 진정한 친구란, 어려울 때 도와 주는 친구예요. = As for a true friend, it is a friend who helps (you) when things are difficult. 진정한 친구는 어려울 때 도와 주는 친구예요. = A true friend is a friend who helps (you) when things are difficult.

1. 옛날에는 여자가 취직하기란 하늘의 별따기었다. 2. 옛날에는 여자가 취직하는 건 하늘의 별따기었다.. => In the old times, it was impossibily difficult for women to get a job. (별딱이 -> 별따기. 별따기 = picking a start - an extremely difficult thing to do) The two sentences have the same meaning. One is using the -기 form and the other the -는 것 to create the noun phrase from a verb (like the gerund in English). 취직하기란 is 취직하기(noun) followed by the particle "이란" which introduces a subject or topic in an elevated style. When 이란 comes after a syllable ending with the vowel ㅣ, 이 is dropped to simplify the pronunciation. So it becomes 취직하기(n) + 란. 취직하는 건 is a contraction of 취직하는 것은, i.e. 취직하는 것(n) + 은(topic particle). 것은 is often shortened to 건. Examples of the noun phrases. - 사람이란 생각하는 존재다 = 사람은 생각하는 존재다 = Man is a being that thinks. - 인생이란 무엇인가? = 인생은 무엇인가? = What is life? There three primary ways to create a noun from a verb in Korean. 1. -는 것 = most general way to form a noun. 먹는 것은 즐거운 일이다. 2. -기 = for commonly known activities. Certain set phrases. 물구나무서기, 넘기(가) 어려운 난관. 먹기(가) 싫어. 3. -ㅁ = existing words. Certain set phrases. In formal or literary phrases. 꿈. 죽음. 일을 시작함에 있어서 생각할 일.