“MAGNIFICENT SIGHT”
The tower’s distinctive shape causes additional problems for the window cleaners.
“We prefer straight, square-shaped buildings, but the tower’s slender cone shape makes it difficult to descend and clean,” Seo said.
“There are many instances where the cage is pushed to the side and gets twisted as you go down.”
His team use diatomaceous earth – a powder made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms – to clean the windows, as it polishes the glass without scratching it and prevents complaints from pedestrians about getting splashed with soapy water.
“It’s a great method, but when the wind blows, the rough particles sting our eyes,” said Seo. “It’s more difficult to work in the hot summer.”
Even so, Seo says his job is “very rewarding as we are gifted with this magnificent sight” of Seoul from above.
The Lotte World Tower and the mall inside get nearly 50 million visitors annually, and the observation deck on the 123rd floor has become one of South Korea’s most popular tourist attractions.
Cleaning the windows of the observation deck makes Seo feel like he’s “helping a little bit” to show the city at its best to visitors.
“I live in Seoul, and I see the tower wherever I go,” said Seo. “I feel proud, and I always will whenever I see the tower, even after I retire.”
