-(이)건 -(이)건

N(이)건 N(이)건 lists two or more options and says that whichever one it is, the outcome stays the same.

나열·첨가Listing & adding

Han: 학생 ends in a consonant, so it needs 이건, not 건.

Examples

국내 여행이건 해외여행이건 미리 계획을 세우는 게 좋아요.Whether it is a domestic or an overseas trip, it is good to plan ahead.

아이건 어른이건 이 영화를 보면 다 감동할 거예요.Whether children or adults, everyone will be moved by this film.

상대가 사장이건 신입 사원이건 예의를 지켜야 합니다.Whether the other person is the CEO or a new employee, you must be polite.

평일이건 주말이건 그 식당은 늘 손님이 많아요.Weekday or weekend, that restaurant is always full of customers.

Don’t mix up

-(이)건 -(이)건vsN(이)든 N(이)든Same meaning and freely interchangeable; 든 is the more frequent choice in everyday speech, 건 sounds slightly more clipped and emphatic: 아이든 어른이든 다 좋아해요.

-(이)건 -(이)건vsN(이)나 N(이)나 presents options to choose from, while (이)건 says the choice does not matter: 커피나 차 드릴까요? vs 커피건 차건 다 괜찮아요.

-(이)건 -(이)건vsV-건 말건The verb counterpart of this pattern, meaning 'whether one does it or not'; noun options use N(이)건 N(이)건 instead: 그가 오건 말건 우리는 출발할 거예요.

How to build it

N+(이)건 N+(이)건 (noun ending in a vowel + 건, in a consonant + 이건)

아이건 어른이건 (아이 + 건, 어른 + 이건)

After a consonant use 이건 (학생이건); after a vowel use 건 (친구건). It is a variant of (이)든 and (이)거나 with the same meaning.
The main clause expresses something true for every option, so it usually contains words like 다 (all), 모두, 누구나, 상관없다 or an obligation such as -아/어야 하다.
It does not offer a choice, so it is not used in questions like 'Would you like A or B?' — use N(이)나 for that.
With verbs and adjectives the same idea is expressed as V/A-건 V/A-건 (오건 말건, 비싸건 싸건).

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~학생건 직장인이건 누구나 신청할 수 있어요.~~

Right: 학생이건 직장인이건 누구나 신청할 수 있어요.

학생 ends in a consonant, so it needs 이건, not 건.

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