Originally Posted by jpatokal
I'm considering a visit to Cheju/Jeju later this year as a part of an RTW. I hate package tours and will travel independently every minutes of way. I don't speak a word of Korean, but am reasonably fluent in Japanese, which I'm told helps -- how hard is it to get around and communicate?
Jeju has had two major visitor groups since ages, Korean honeymooners and Korean and Japanese male bonding groups coming for Golf, hunting and more nocturnal pleasures. Now they are ( fortunately ) going upmarket and aiming at individual travellers too instead of just the package tour buyers. With Japanese and some basic Korean you should be able to enjoy the Island to a considerable extent although I think you would cherish your trip more if accompanied by a fluent Korean speaker.
Btw, the beaches at the Southern tip of Jeju are something special as you can view former Mongol rock fortresses while walking barefoot through the sand.