On February 18, 2003 (January 18, 2003 in the lunar calendar), a major fire broke out in the subway in Daegu, South Korea. Two rescuers inspect a burned subway train in Daegu, South Korea. On February 18, 2003, a major fire broke out in the subway in Daegu, South Korea. The fire killed 198 people and injured 147 others. On August 6, the Daegu District Court in South Korea publicly sentenced nine defendants in the Daegu subway arson case. The arsonist, 56-year-old Kim Dahan, was sentenced to life imprisonment.