일이었다

was a thing; was a task

→ 일
phrase Uncommon #6,564
was a thing; was a task 일 can mean a thing, task, job, or event, depending on context.
KO: 그것은 내가 맡은 일이었다.
EN: It was a task I was responsible for.

말하고 싶으면 본인이 말하면 될 일 이었다.

If they wanted to say something, they could have said it themselves.

둘째 딸과 첫째 아들은 아직 한참 뒤의 일 이었다.

The second daughter and the eldest son were still a long way off.

두고 보면 알 일 이었다.

Only time would tell.

데이비드가 돈을 대고 고용한 일 이었다.

It was a job David had funded and hired someone to do.

사법관의 일 이었다.

It was the judge’s job.

전혀 기억나지 않았지만, 실제로 있었던 일 이었다.

I couldn’t remember it at all, but it had really happened.

그것도 유가 한 일 이었다.

That was also something Yu had done.

놀라운 일 이었다.

It was amazing.

어떤 사람들은 종일 폴리의 전화 심부름 하는 게 일 이었다

For some people, their job was to run Polly’s errands by phone all day.

— 좋은 친구들 (1990)

이상한 일 이었다.

It was strange.

거의 영원히 걸릴 것 같은 일 이었다.

It seemed like it would take almost forever.