Dongchon Station (동촌역) — Dongchon Amusement Park Access Point
Outline
Dongchon Station (동촌역), officially Dongchon (Dongchon Amusement Park) Station, is a subway stop on Daegu Metro Line 1. Opened on May 2, 1998, it sits 22.9 meters underground along Haedong-ro in Seomsam-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu. The name “Dongchon” originates from the historic Dongchon-myeon (East Village), once located east of Haean-hyeon.
The station was renamed in March 2017 to emphasize its proximity to Dongchon Amusement Park, though access remains inconvenient.
Station Information
- Location: Haedong-ro, Dong-gu, B197 (Inspection Building)
- Structure: 4 underground floors, relative platform (no cross-platform transfers)
- Depth: 22.9m (one of the deeper stations along the Geumho River corridor)
- Operator: Daegu Transportation Corporation
- Management: Dongdaegu Management Station / Customer Center 1
Features:
- Bicycle storage between Exit 2 and Exit 3
- Screen doors installed earlier than most stations (commissioned slightly later than Ayanggyo)
- Poor accessibility: long stair climbs, limited escalator use (initially only during rush hours)
- Historically adjacent to the old Daegu Line Dongchon Station, creating a symmetry with the current Line 1 station
Average Daily Passengers
Dongchon Station has consistently ranked among the lowest-ridership stations on Line 1, due to poor placement on narrow Haedong-ro and distance from major residential/commercial areas.
- 2010: 2,917
- 2015: 3,728
- 2019: 4,989
- 2020 (COVID impact): 3,447
- 2024: 4,333
Once second only to Yulha Station in low demand, Dongchon has since seen modest growth thanks to nearby apartment developments, but still remains in the bottom tier of usage across the network.
Platform
- 2 platforms, relative structure
- Direction north: Ayanggyo → Dongdaegu → Jungangno → Banwoldang → Seolhwa Myeonggok
- Direction south: Haean → Bangchon → Singi → Banyawol → Ansim
Transportation Connections
- Exit 2: City bus 618
- Dongchon Station (Singil 1): 719, 805, 836, Dong-gu 1, Dong-gu 1-1, Dong-gu 3, 818 (to Gyeongsan)
- Dongchon Station (Singil 2): Same routes as above
While technically the station is labeled as serving Dongchon Amusement Park, visitors must climb the riverbank embankment after exiting, making access inconvenient.
Surroundings
- Dongchon Amusement Park: directly across the Geumho River, but inconvenient pedestrian access (shabby pedestrian bridge was demolished in 2013 due to aging).
- Dongchon Old Road: narrow, residential-focused corridor with historic roots.
- Geumho River bank: scenic walking and cycling paths, though not heavily integrated with station exits.
The station remains more of a residential access point than a commercial hub, with limited draw for non-local passengers.
Summary
Dongchon Station highlights the challenges of urban planning around natural and military constraints (Geumho River, Air Force base). Its inconvenient location and weak ties to Dongchon Amusement Park have left it underutilized compared to neighboring stations.
Still, with modest ridership growth tied to nearby apartment construction, Dongchon Station may gain slow relevance over time, especially if riverside redevelopment improves access.
