East Jeju Sea

The sea east of Jeju lies south of the Korean Peninsula, between the island and the wider waters leading toward Japan. Sea crossings connected Jeju to the mainland, but wind and weather could make passage hazardous. In 1488 the Joseon official Choe Bu was shipwrecked on the Chinese coast while travelling from Jeju, an experience he later recorded.

The island's coastal waters also sustained divers who gathered marine products. During the Joseon period Jeju inhabitants were required to send local products as tribute, including seafood gathered by divers. The long history of Jeju's women divers reflects knowledge of the sea and the labour involved in collecting its resources.