View source for Daegu subway fire

{{Short description|2003 subway arson in Daegu, South Korea}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2018}}
{{Expand Korean|topic=hist|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Daegu subway fire
| partof = 
| image = 2003년 2월 대구광역시 대구 지하철 화재 참사 열차 내부 사진 Daegumetrofire02.jpg
| image_size = 
| alt = 
| caption = Firemen inspect the wreckage of a train car post-fire
| map = 
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| map_alt = 
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Jungangno station (Daegu Metro)|Jungangno station]], [[Daegu]], South Korea
| target = [[Daegu Metropolitan Subway]]
| coordinates = 
| date = {{start date and age|2003|02|18}}
| time = 9:53 a.m.
| timezone = [[Korea Standard Time|KST]]
| type = [[Arson]], [[mass murder]], attempted [[suicide attack]]
| fatalities = 192
| injuries = 151+ (including the perpetrator)
| victims = <!-- or | victim = -->
| perpetrator = Kim Dae-han
| assailants = <!-- or | assailant = -->
| susperps = <!-- or | susperp = -->
| weapons = Two milk cartons filled with a [[flammable liquid]]
| numparts = <!-- or | numpart = -->
| dfens = <!-- or | dfen = -->
| motive = 
| inquiry = 
| coroner = 
| accused = 
| convicted = 
| verdict = [[Life imprisonment]]
| convictions = [[Homicide]] (192 counts)<br>[[Arson]]
| charges = 
| litigation = 
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| module = 
}}

On February 18, 2003, an [[arson]]ist set fire to a [[Daegu Metro]] subway train as it arrived at [[Jungangno station (Daegu Metro)|Jungangno station]] in central [[Daegu]], South Korea. The resulting blaze, which spread when a second train stopped at the same station, killed 192 people and injured another 151. It remains the deadliest loss of life in a single deliberate incident in South Korean peacetime history, surpassing the 1982 shooting rampage committed by [[Woo Bum-kon]].

==Arsonist==
The arsonist, Kim Dae-han ({{Korean|hangul=김대한|hanja=金大漢|labels=no}}), was a 56-year-old unemployed former taxi driver who had suffered a [[stroke]] in November 2001 that left him partly [[paralyzed]]. Kim was dissatisfied with his medical treatment and had expressed sentiments of violence and [[depression (mood)|depression]]; he later told police he wanted to kill himself, but to do so in a crowded place rather than alone. By most accounts, on the morning of February 18, he boarded train 1079 on Line 1 in the direction of [[Daegok Station (Daegu)|Daegok Station]], carrying a [[duffel bag]] that contained two green milk cartons filled with a [[fire accelerant|flammable liquid]], possibly [[paint thinner]] or [[gasoline]].

==Arson==
As the train left [[Banwoldang station]] around 9:53&nbsp;a.m., Kim began fumbling with the cartons and a [[Lighter|cigarette lighter]], alarming other passengers who tried to stop him. In the struggle, one of the cartons spilled and its liquid contents caught fire as the train pulled into [[Jungangno station (Daegu Metro)|Jungangno station]] in downtown Daegu. Kim, his back and legs on fire, managed to escape along with many passengers on train 1079, but within two minutes the fire had spread to all six cars. The fire spread quickly in the insulation between the layers of aluminium that form the shell of the cars, the vinyl and plastic materials in seat cushions and strap handles, and heavy plastic matting on the floors,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2003/02/27/seoul.php|title=Subway fire toll rises much higher|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=March 27, 2003|accessdate=27 Feb 2003}}</ref> producing thick smoke as it burned.

=== Errors compounding the disaster ===
[[Image:Daegu subway fire 1.JPG|thumb|Smoke-damaged lockers and ATM]]
The operator of the train, Choi Jeong-hwan ({{Korean|hangul=최정환|hanja=崔政煥|labels=no}}; aged 31), failed to notify subway officials immediately of the fire.

Smoke being visible on their [[closed-circuit television]] monitors, subway officials radioed the operator of train 1080, Choi Sang-yeol ({{Korean|hangul=최상열|hanja=崔相烈|labels=no}}), advising him to proceed with caution because there was a fire in the station. Train 1080 entered Jungangno station and stopped alongside blazing train 1079 approximately four minutes later. The doors opened only briefly, then shut, apparently in an effort to keep out the toxic smoke that had filled the station. Shortly after train 1080's arrival, an automatic fire detector shut down the power supply to both trains, preventing train 1080 from leaving the station.

Transcripts show Choi Sang-yeol made three announcements advising passengers in train 1080 to remain seated while he attempted to reach superiors. Finally, he was advised "Quickly, run somewhere else. Go up... kill the engine and go." Choi then opened the doors and fled, but in doing so he removed the master key, which led to a shutdown of the onboard batteries that powered the train doors and effectively sealed passengers inside. Later investigation showed that all 79 passengers remained trapped inside train 1080 and died there.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arsonist sets fire in South Korean subway {{!}} February 18, 2003 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/arsonist-sets-fire-in-south-korean-subway |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=HISTORY |date=13 November 2009 |language=en}}</ref>

Inadequate emergency equipment also worsened the disaster. Daegu subway trains at the time were not equipped with [[fire extinguisher]]s, and the stations lacked sprinklers and emergency lighting. Many victims became disoriented in the dark, smoke-filled underground station and died of [[asphyxiation]] looking for exits. Emergency ventilation systems also proved inadequate. Over 1,300 fire and emergency personnel responded and the fire itself was extinguished around 1:38&nbsp;p.m.; however, the toxicity of the smoke prevented them from entering the station for another three and a half hours.

== Victims ==
The intensity of the fire made it difficult to accurately assess the number of victims. Most were burned beyond recognition, many to the bone, and required [[DNA analysis]] to identify. A total of 192 people were confirmed to have died. Of the bodies found, 185 were identifiable; six could not initially be identified, of which three were discovered using DNA; and one person's possessions were identified but their remains could not be located.

As the incident occurred late in the morning [[rush hour]], most of the victims were students or young women who worked in the downtown district's [[department store]]s, which opened at 10:30&nbsp;a.m. Many were able to contact loved ones on their [[mobile phone]]s, and mobile phone operators released call connection and attempt records to help authorities determine who was in the station.

== Aftermath ==
[[File:Daegu subway Jungangno station.jpg|thumb|Remodeled Jungangno station 4 years later]]
The incident prompted outpourings of sympathy and anger from throughout South Korea and internationally.

Officials promised to install better safety equipment in subway stations, and added spray-on fire-resistant chemicals to the interiors of the cars of the Daegu Metropolitan Subway.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} Six stations were taken out of service for refurbishment and restored in April 2003. The tragedy was considered by many a national embarrassment, provoking debate about whether South Korea had cut too many corners in safety during its rapid industrialization. Several metro trains throughout the country were subsequently refurbished to improve fire-resistant standards within a few years of the accident.

On August 7, the Daegu District Court convicted Choi Sang-yeol, operator of train 1080, and Choi Jeong-hwan, operator of train 1079, sentencing them to prison for five and four years respectively for criminal negligence. Kim Dae-han was convicted of [[arson]] and [[homicide]]. Although prosecutors, with the support of victims' families, had sought the [[Capital punishment in South Korea|death penalty]], the court instead sentenced him to [[life imprisonment]] on account of his remorse and mental instability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/200308/06/eng20030806_121813.shtml|title=S. Korean Man Gets Life for Fatal Subway Fire|publisher=[[People's Daily]]|date=2003-08-06|access-date=2017-01-07}}</ref> Kim died of a chronic illness in prison on August 31, 2004, in the city of [[Jinju]], where he had been receiving medical treatment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/09/113_198336.html|title=Victims' families remember deadly Daegu subway fire|date=2016-02-18|work=[[The Korea Times]]|access-date=2018-06-01|language=en}}</ref>

In December 2008, the Daegu Safety Theme Park opened. The goal was to educate the inhabitants of Daegu about safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1267846|title=Daegu Safety Theme Park (대구시민안전테마파크)|website=[[VisitKorea.or.kr]]|language=en|access-date=2018-06-01}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|South Korea|Trains|Law}}
* [[1995 Baku Metro fire]]
* [[Chengdu bus fire]]
* [[King's Cross fire]]
* [[List of transportation fires]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category}}
* iCivilEngineer Engineering Failure Watch: [https://web.archive.org/web/20041103153913/http://www.icivilengineer.com/Failure_Watch/Daegu_Subway/ South Korean Subway Fire]
* Soo-Jeong. "[http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6018188%255E1702,00.html Subway horror: Errors revealed]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}," [[Associated Press]].
* Hwang Sun-yoon. "[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200302/19/200302190206119809900090409041.html 200 dead, missing in Daegu arson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308162215/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200302/19/200302190206119809900090409041.html |date=2005-03-08 }}," ''[[Joong-Ang Ilbo]]'', February 19, 2003
* Byun Duk-kun. "[http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200302/kt2003021820555212070.htm Slow Response Causes More Death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409180247/http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200302/kt2003021820555212070.htm |date=2005-04-09 }}," ''[[Hankook Ilbo]]'' February 18, 2003
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050128101232/http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0302/18/lt.05.html Dozens Dead, Hundreds Injured, Missing in South Korea Subway Fire], [[CNN]] Transcript, February 18, 2003
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2782981.stm Anger mounts over Korean fire], [[BBC]] News, February 20, 2003
* Kirk, Don. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/international/asia/21CND-SKOR.html?ex=1098849600&en=ba2618f78e23a467&ei=5070 Effort to Fix Responsibility for Deadly Korean Subway Fire]," ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 21, 2003
*"[http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2003022424858 Fire Alarm Ignored and Not Immediately Informed]," ''[[The Dong-A Ilbo]]'', February 23, 2003
* Christensen, Geir. Letter to the Editor: "[https://web.archive.org/web/20041112190806/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200302/200302250029.html The Daegu Subway Fire]," February 25, 2003
* "[http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2003022774538 Death Toll in Daegu Is Likely to Reach 200]," ''Dong-A Ilbo'', February 26, 2003
* "[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200302/26/200302260211521339900090409041.html Subway official told driver of train to leave passengers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125032918/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200302/26/200302260211521339900090409041.html |date=2005-11-25 }}," ''Joong-Ang Ilbo'', February 26, 2003
* Choi Jie-ho. "[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200304/08/200304080053516079900091009101.html Safety first -- and 2d, 3d, 4th . . .] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125033006/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200304/08/200304080053516079900091009101.html |date=2005-11-25 }}," ''Joong-Ang Ilbo'', April 8, 2003
* "[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200308/07/200308070319386709900090409041.html Arsonist to serve life in Daegu subway fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125033508/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200308/07/200308070319386709900090409041.html |date=2005-11-25 }}, ''[[JoongAng Ilbo|Joong-Ang Ilbo]]'', August 7, 2003
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051119154700/http://anesthesia21.com/daegusubwayfireslide_1.html Daegu Subway Fire photo slideshow]

{{2003 railway accidents}}
{{Railway accidents and incidents in South Korea}}
{{coord|35|52|16|N|128|35|39|E|region:KR-27_type:event|display=title}}

[[Category:21st-century mass murder in South Korea]]
[[Category:2003 disasters in South Korea]]
[[Category:2003 fires in Asia]]
[[Category:2003 murders in South Korea]]
[[Category:Arson in South Korea]]
[[Category:February 2003 in South Korea]]
[[Category:Daegu Metro]]
[[Category:History of Daegu]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2003]]
[[Category:Arson in 2003]]
[[Category:Murder–suicides in South Korea]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 2003]]
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in South Korea]]
[[Category:Train and rapid transit fires]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents on subterranean rapid transit]]
[[Category:Arson attacks on vehicles in Asia]]