Today in Korean history

Feb. 18

1909 -- The Korean Empire, the successor of the Joseon Dynasty lasting from 1897
to 1910, announces national tax collection laws.
Regional tax laws were formed three years earlier, yielding part of the tax
income to local municipalities.

1910 -- The first commercial movie theater opens in Seoul.

1952 -- North Korean prisoners of war being held at a jail on Geoje Island off
South Korea's southern coast start a revolt.
About 100 were killed during the conflict with anti-communist inmates and the
rest were set free in 1953 when the Korean War ended with an armistice.

1986 -- The first shipment of South Korean cars, consisting of 1,000 units of the
Pony model, a compact vehicle produced by Hyundai Motor, arrives in the United
States.

1992 - South and North Korea hold their sixth meeting of high-level officials in
Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.

2003 -- A fire engulfs a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu,
killing 197 people and injuring hundreds. The blaze was started early in the
morning by a mentally disturbed man in his 50s who intended to kill others as
well as himself. He was later sentenced to life in prison.
(END)