British man detained after climbing 72nd floor of Seoul skyscraper

PTI, Jun 12, 2023, 5:10 PM IST

This photo provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters, shows an unidentified British man climbing Lotte World Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the country, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. (Credit: The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters, via AP)

Seoul: A British man was detained after climbing more than half way up the world’s fifth-tallest skyscraper in Seoul with only his bare hands on Monday, authorities said.

More than 90 emergency, police and other personnel were dispatched to Seoul’s 123-story Lotte World Tower, after the man was spotted scaling the building on Monday morning, the Seoul fire agency said in a statement.

The man, in his 20s, reached the 72nd floor, which is about 310 metres (1,020 feet) high, before officials took him to a gondola lift and moved him inside the building, the statement said.

South Korean media reports identified the man as free climber George King-Thompson. The reports said he was carrying a parachute and told police that he wanted to BASE-jump from the top of the building.

Fire and police authorities didn’t immediately confirm the man’s name or his motive. Police confirmed they took custody of the man for an investigation, but didn’t provide further details.

The fire agency statement said he suffered a cut on his skin on the right knee but was otherwise fine. In 2018, French climber Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman” for his daring stunt, was also detained after climbing the 75th floor of the Lotte World Tower. Lotte officials said they heard he was eventually released and left South Korea after they told police they didn’t want to press charges for obstruction or trespassing.

(AP)