-기는 하다

You admit that something is true, but only partly or with a reservation, usually followed by a 'but'.

대조·양보Contrast & concession

Han: The past tense goes on 하다 (했는데), not on the verb before 기는.

Examples

이 식당 음식이 맛있기는 한데 좀 비싸요.The food at this restaurant is tasty, but it's a bit expensive.

그 영화를 보긴 했는데 내용이 잘 기억나지 않아요.I did see that movie, but I don't remember the story well.

숙제를 하기는 했는데 다 끝내지는 못했어요.I did do my homework, but I couldn't finish all of it.

한국어가 어렵기는 하지만 정말 재미있어요.Korean is hard, it's true, but it's really fun.

V/A+기는 하다 (N + 이기는 하다)

spoken: V/A+긴 하다

맛있다 → 맛있기는 한데 / 가다 → 가기는 했어요

Tense and politeness go on 하다, not on the verb before 기: 먹기는 했어요, not 먹었기는 했어요.
It is usually followed by a contrasting clause (-지만, -는데). If the sentence ends with it, a 'but…' is still implied.
With adjectives, 하다 is conjugated like an adjective: 비싸기는 하다 / 비싸기는 한데 (not 비싸기는 한다).
Don't use it for full, enthusiastic agreement; it sounds reluctant or half-hearted.

Wrong: ~~어제 친구를 만났기는 했는데 오래 이야기하지 못했어요.~~

Right: 어제 친구를 만나기는 했는데 오래 이야기하지 못했어요.

The past tense goes on 하다 (했는데), not on the verb before 기는.

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