Jeju Island (JI) is an intraplate volcanic field located at the continental margin of Northeast Asia. This volcanic island has been formed by multiple eruptions from the Pleistocene to the Holocene (~3.7 ka), which have yielded hundreds of monogenetic volcanic cones and a central basaltic shield. To understand the volcanic structures and mechanism beneath JI, we deployed 20 broadband temporary seismometers across the island for over two years (October 2013 to November 2015). We investigated the crustal and upper mantle structures in JI for the first time using the gathered data. Through teleseismic traveltime tomography, we obtained images of the lithospheric structure related to the volcanic system. A major finding was the identification of a prominent low‐velocity anomaly (<−0.3 km/s in P wave velocity relative to the surrounding high‐velocity region) beneath the summit of the central shield volcano at greater depths (50–60 km), which separates into low‐velocity zones at shallower depths (10–45 km). Based on previous geological observations, the anomalies were interpreted as a magmatic system, potentially with partial melting. Moreover, relatively high velocity zones were consistently imaged to the north, east, and west of the island, indicating relatively thick lithospheric structures at the southern margin of the continental lithosphere beneath the Korean Peninsula. Based on the geometries of the imaged structures, we suggest that a focused decompressional melting at sublithospheric depths and complex magma interactions within the lithosphere resulted in the characteristics of JI volcanism as intraplate magmatic activities that are isolated in space and confined in time.

Topography of the 410 and 660 km seismic upper mantle discontinuities beneath the Korean Peninsula and southwestern Japan were determined using teleseismic receiver functions. P receiver functions were migrated from delayed times to corresponding piercing (conversion) points of P-to-S converted phases, using one-dimensional (1-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) models. Receiver functions were then stacked using Common Conversion Point (CCP) techniques, to enhance signal-to-noise ratios and thereby reduce uncertainty (noise). The 410 and 660 km discontinuities were clearly imaged, as positively valued amplitude peaks of CCP stacked receiver functions in the study area. Topographic variations were roughly consistent with the low temperature of the subducting Pacific Plate. However, the complex structure of the subducting Pacific Plate produced distinct changes of upper mantle discontinuities, which cannot be explained by temperature variations alone. Depression of the 410 km discontinuity, observed in a wide region extending from the Korean Peninsula to Kyushu Island, may be related to trench rollback history. Furthermore, the topography of the 660 km discontinuity varies significantly with latitude. At latitudes higher than 38°N, its depth remains unchanged, despite the presence of the stagnant slab, while significant depression has been observed at latitudes below 36°N. This may have been caused by differences in the angles of subduction of the Japan slab and the Izu-Bonin slab. However, heterogeneity of the water content of slabs may also have contributed to this topographical difference.