옥동은 조선시대 안동부의 감옥이 있던 곳이라 하여 옥거리, 옥마, 옥리 등으로 불리었으며, 지금은 옥동(玉洞)으로 불리고 있다.
Ok-dong was called Okgeo-ri, Okma, Ok-ri, etc. because it was the place where the Andongbu prison was located in the Joseon Dynasty, and now it is called Ok-dong.