Lotte World Tower () is a 123-story, supertall skyscraper, located in Sincheon-dong, Songpa District, Seoul, South Korea. It is the sixth-tallest building in the world, the tallest in OECD countries and in South Korea, and also the first in South Korea to be over 100 stories tall. It was the fifth-tallest in the world when completed. The tower opened to the public on April 3, 2017.
A "Sky Bridge Tour" is located on the roof of Lotte World Tower at , which is about the same height of One World Trade Center in New York City (), the tallest building in the United States.
History After 13 years of planning and site preparation, the tower gained final approval to start construction by the government in November 2010 and the first groundbreaking activities of piling and frame assembly were observed at the construction site in March 2012.
On December 31, 2015, the LED-pixels of the façade displayed the number "2016"."Das frohe Neue Jahr kann kommen! I'm sudkoreanischen Seoul wurde bereits die LED-Schrift Auf dem Lotte World Premium Tower getestet." Picture of LED-lit facade tested with the vertical display of "2016" (viewed from the north). Kronen Zeitung (Print), Vienna, December 31, 2015, p 14. (German)
On April 3, 2017, Lotte shot off fireworks to celebrate the tower's official opening.
On January 1, 2018, Lotte shot off fireworks with a LED laser show for seven minutes to celebrate New Year's Day and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Design On March 17, 2016, before the final phase of external construction, the diagrid lantern-shaped roof structure was completed. The roof structure was constructed with steel counterparts that are each and weigh . The counterparts were made up of bent metal panels that are thick. The roof structure itself is high and covers floors 107–123. Approximately of steel parts, a high-precision tower crane, and GPS alignment systems, as well as welding technicians, were used in the construction of the roof.
The roof structure is engineered to withstand its weight without reinforcing pillars, endure earthquakes up to a magnitude of 9 under the Richter magnitude scale, and winds up to .
The exterior of pale-coloured glass draws inspiration from Korean ceramics and features accents of metal filigree.
The tower incorporates several environmental sustainability features, including an advanced heat pump system for heating and cooling, which utilizes 720 geothermal probes installed about 200 meters underground as well as water from the Han River. Additional technologies include heat-insulating glass with passive shading systems, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and rainwater harvesting.
Floor plans
Seoul Sky occupies the top seven levels. Floors 117–118 are the entrance and view floor, including a glass floor and sky show on 118. Sky Friends Cafe and the sky terrace are located on floors 119–120. Seoul Sky Cafe and a souvenir shop are on floors 121–122, and the premium lounge bar, 123 lounge, is on the top floor at .
The observatory charges an admission for entry. The skylight of Seoul Sky was the highest glass floor observatory as of the tower's completion. The tower and One World Trade Center have concluded an operation and technical service agreement. The operating hours of the observatory are divided into two periods. From Sunday to Thursday, it is open from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, it is open from 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
The space from the 42nd to the 101st floor is used as Signiel, the tallest hotel and residence in South Korea, and it has also been home to various celebrities, including Shin Kyuk-ho, the chairman of the Lotte Corporation.
Floor Use125Mechanical & Rooftop124Mechanical123Premium Lounge Bar (123 Lounge)122Seoul Sky Cafe, Angel in Us Cafe121Observation (Seoul Sky) exit, Seoul Sky Shop120Observation (Seoul Sky) exit, Sky Terrace119Observation (Seoul Sky), Character Dessert Cafe (Sky Friends Cafe)118Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance, Sky Deck117Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance116Mechanical floor115Mechanical floor114Private office (Premier 7)113Private office (Premier 7)112Private office (Premier 7)111Private office (Premier 7)110Private office (Premier 7)109Private office (Premier 7)108Private office (Premier 7)107Private office (Premier 7) Lobby, Signiel Club (member restaurant)106Mechanical105Mechanical104Mechanical103Mechanical102Refuge Area101Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms100Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms99Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms98Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms97Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms96Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms95Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms94Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms93Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms92Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms91Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms90Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms89Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms88Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms87Signiel Seoul Hotel Guestrooms86Hotel Spa & Hotel Facilities 85Indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna.84Mechanical floor83Refuge area82Bicena Korean restaurant81Stay French restaurant, Bicena Korean restaurant80Signiel Seoul Hotel lobby79Signiel Seoul Hotel Lobby78Signiel Seoul Hotel Ballroom77Signiel Seoul Hotel Ballroom76Signiel Seoul Hotel Ballroom75Mechanical 74Mechanical73Mechanical72Mechanical 71Signiel Residences70Signiel Residences69Signiel Residences68Signiel Residences67Signiel Residences66Signiel Residences65Signiel Residences64Signiel Residences63Signiel Residences62Signiel Residences61Signiel Residences60Refuge area59Mechanical floor58Signiel Residences57Signiel Residences56Signiel Residences55Signiel Residences54Signiel Residences53Signiel Residences52Signiel Residences51Signiel Residences50Signiel Residences49Signiel Residences48Signiel Residences47Signiel Residences46Signiel Residences45Signiel Residences44Signiel Residences43Signiel Residences Lobby, Fitness Centre, Indoor Golf, Ballroom.42Signiel Residences Lobby, Fitness Centre, Indoor Golf, Ballroom.41Mechanical floor40Refuge area39Mechanical floor38Office37Office36Office35Office34Office33Office32Office31Seoul Sky 31 Food Court, Seoul Sky 31 Convencion Centre.30Office29Office28Office27Office26Office25Office24Office23Mechanical floor22Refuge area21Mechanical floor20Office19Office18Office17Office16Office15Office14Office13Mechanical floor12Lotte Financial Centre, Hana Financial Investment, KEB Hana Bank, Woori Bank, Lotte World Tower Banking Centre.11BGN Eyeclinic10Lotte World Medical Centre9Lotte Duty Free Shop8Lotte Duty Free Shop7Lotte Museum of Art6Fitness platform (Move 360)5Lotte World Tower publicity center, Public relation office, Press room.4Mechanical floor, store room, staff restricted area.3Mechanical floor, store room, staff restricted area.2Lotte World Office Lobby, Lotte World Management.1Signiel Hotel lobby, Signiel Residence Lobby.B1Observation (Seoul Sky) Gallery, Lotte World Tower Emergency operation center, Drop-off, Seoul Sky shop, Signature PharmacyB2Observation (Seoul Sky) Entrance, Parking Lot, Loading Bay, Service Office.B3Lotte World Parking B4Lotte World Parking B5Lotte World Parking B6Mechanical floor & Loading Bay.
Incidents and accidents Safety issues In 2013 and 2014, three construction workers died during the construction of the tower, and an executive director of Lotte's construction arm was given a suspended sentence of eight months in prison in 2016 for his role in neglecting safety measures at the site. In December 2014, the government of Seoul ordered the mall and cinema complex at the base of the tower, which opened before completion of the tower, to be closed for five months after water was found leaking from an internal aquarium. Independent engineers who assessed the building found that the issues bore little relation to the overall structural integrity of the building and the mall and cinema complex reopened in 2015.
Illegal entries and climbing
In 2016, two men from Ukraine illegally climbed the under-construction Lotte World Tower via its stairs, and one of them free solo climbed up the crane to the top. Lotte World Tower had advance knowledge of their interest in climbing the tower and their entering the country, and responded by posting approximately 400 security agents around the construction site. Posters with the photos of the two stating they were banned from the building were plastered around the construction site.
On June 12, 2023, a 24-year-old British man illegally climbed the tower without ropes from the ground. The building security discovered him on the 42nd floor at above ground at 7:50 am. While he was taking a break on the 72nd floor, the police stopped him on the 73rd floor at above ground by using a building maintenance unit at 8:47 am. After his arrest, he said that he had planned the climb for six months.
Culture
Cherry Blossom Festival Even when Lotte World Tower was under construction, there were many people who celebrated the cherry blossom festival from April 10 to 12, 2015, and it is still possible to celebrate after its completion. In 2017, the Seokchon Lake cherry blossom festival was held from April 1 to 9. It was held at Seokchon Lake waterfront stages (East and West Lake), Seoul Playground, and Gallery Sue, and was free of charge. Recently, it was held from April 5 to 9 in 2023, and March 27 to 31 in 2024.
Fireworks Festival The World Tower was completed in December 2016, and the fireworks festival was held for the first time on April 2, 2017. The venue is in the Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake area and is free of charge. There was a K-POP concert from 7:30 pm to 9 pm, a Lotte World Tower fireworks show from 9 pm to 9:10 pm, and recreation and giveaways from 9:10 to 9:30 pm. The Lotte World Tower Fireworks Show was held again on May 4, 2019, and was accompanied by an eight-hour public broadcast event in collaboration with CBS Music FM. From 2020 to 2022, it is not progressing due to COVID-19.
Professional golf The Lotte Championship, an official event on the LPGA Tour held in Hawaii, has its trophy modeled after the World Tower.
Evaluation
Citizen's evaluation In 2014, Lotte held a 10-day pre- opening in the second week of September, commissioning experts to diagnose the structural safety of the building and offering preview tours to the public, which was generally well received, although it was pointed out that Lotte's actions were merely a publicity stunt for the building. The building under construction at the time received negative reviews for being dangerous and poorly constructed, but Lotte Engineering&Construction rehabilitated it, and in 2016 it received positive reviews for being safe and well designed for earthquake resistance. In 2017, Seoul residents rated the second Lotte World as safe and well designed.
Gallery
See also Busan Lotte Town Tower List of buildings with 100 floors or more List of tallest buildings in Seoul List of tallest buildings in South Korea List of worlds tallest buildings Lotte World Lotte World Mall
References
External links
Lotte World Tower Official Website