Global Courant
SEOUL – A British man was arrested in South Korea on Monday after attempting to climb the country’s tallest skyscraper – the world’s fifth-tallest – without equipment, police said.
The man was climbing the 123-story Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul on Monday morning when staff spotted him and forced him to stop his ascent when he reached the 73rd floor.
“Lotte personnel had to go on a gondola lift to persuade him to stop when he was still climbing above the 70th floor of the building,” a National Police Agency official told AFP.
“Eventually he gave in and we arrested him on the spot for obstructing official business. He is currently being questioned at a police station in Seoul’s Songpa district.”
The Guardian reported that the climber was wearing only shorts, climbing shoes and a small backpack.
The 555 meter high Lotte World Tower is the sixth tallest building in the world.
Alain Robert, commonly known as the “French Spider-Man”, was jailed in 2018 after climbing the same building without permission. He ascended to the 75th floor.
Local media, including the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, have identified the British man in custody as George King-Thompson.
The Daily Mail reported in 2021 that King-Thompson had been jailed for attempting to climb the Shard, a 72-storey skyscraper in London. AFP
