A British man has been detained by authorities in South Korea after he climbed more than half way up the world’s fifth-tallest skyscraper in Seoul with only his bare hands on Monday.
The man, who has not been identified, was spotted scaling the 123-story, 555-meter (1,820-foot) -tall Lotte World Tower around 10:30 a.m., causing panic among pedestrians and drivers.
More than 90 emergency, police and other personnel were dispatched to the scene, along with a helicopter and a fire truck. The climber reached the 75th floor before he was intercepted by security staff and brought down safely.
According to the Seoul fire agency, the man claimed he was a professional climber and had always wanted to climb the Lotte World Tower. He also said he did not intend to harm anyone or cause any damage.
The man is currently under investigation for trespassing and violating the building management law. He could face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won ($44,000).
The Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in South Korea and the fifth-tallest in the world. It opened in 2017 and has a hotel, offices, apartments, a shopping mall and an observation deck.
