Japanese colonialists ruling Korea started construction of the railway linking 대구 Daegu and 영천Yeongchun in February 1916 and opened a station along the railway around 반야월 Banyawol to the east of Daegu in December 1917, which is the second stop from Daegu station. Dongchon station that was also opened in 1917 is located between Daegu and Banyawol station.
Banyawol means half moon, which was derived from the historical event that took place around Banyawol in 927. At that time, Korean peninsular was in social and political upheaval and got involved in the war, and Mt. Palgong and its vicinity became one of the major battlefields. A general called 왕건 Wanggeon had a narrow escape from death after being decisively defeated in the battle near 팔공산 Mt. Palgong and went past this area at dawn while he ran away. Then, half moon in the sky helped him find the way to escape, and he fled to Mt. Ap, Apsan in southern Daegu and found a place to hide. Later he succeeded in rising again and finally unified the peninsula. And he named this area Banyawol which had helped him run away in the moonlight.
When Banyawol and Dongchon station were closed in December 2005, it has been 92 years since the opening in 1917. The railway line along Banyawol and Dongchon was moved to the southern area due to the urban development project. But the two stations were designated as culture properties to be conserved well by concerned government authority.
