Acrophobia: the intense and/or irrational fear of heights
Would you stand on the glass floor of the worlds 5th tallest building?
Peering out the windows of the tallest building in South Korea was definitely an opportunity I wasn't planning on missing out on. This 123-floor skyscraper in Seoul opened to the public in 2017. It took 13 years to plan and prepare the site for this towering giant, with groundbreaking taking place in November 2010.
The area of the tower, Seoul Sky, where visitors can take in breathtaking views of the city occur on floors 117-123. You'll find a small lounge bar on the 123rd floor. A drink certainly may be needed if you don't find heights too appealing. And this tower is as strong as it is tall, with the ability to withstand an earthquake with up to a Richter magnitude of 9 (considered near-total destruction). Wow!
Another fun feature of the whole experience is the elevator ride up to the 117th floor. The double-decker elevator called the Sky Shuttle shoots visitors up at more than 22mph, getting riders to their destination in a smooth 60 seconds.
For the truly brave, there are two separate areas where you can walk across a glass floor that creates a feeling of floating above the city far below. The view is spectacular, there is no denying it. You'll squint to see the cars driving along below, you'll watch the coaster at Lotte World move up and down the tracks, appearing like it could be placed in a dollhouse with it's miniature size.
For the truly brave, there are two separate areas where you can walk across a glass floor that creates a feeling of floating above the city far below. The view is spectacular, there is no denying it. You'll squint to see the cars driving along below, you'll watch the coaster at Lotte World move up and down the tracks, appearing like it could be placed in a dollhouse with it's miniature size.
The sound of stomping on the glass below my feet was a bit unnerving, I'll admit.
A group of High School boys laughed and shoved one another as they bet who would actually be able to shatter the glass floor.
A group of High School boys laughed and shoved one another as they bet who would actually be able to shatter the glass floor.
I have luckily never really been afraid of heights. Brent on the other hand...I glanced over and saw the poor dude slowly crawling along the back wall with eyes wide, fixated on the floor-to-ceiling windows ahead. Surprisingly, not only did I manage to get him to the outdoor observation terrace on floor 120, but he made it all the way to the top (123)! Definitely a big moment for someone who not long ago was weak at the knees being on the 15th floor of our hotel in Austin, TX.
Totally fearless? Then you may want to turn things up a notch and take a walk across the Sky Bridge. Courageous visitors dressed in red suits and safety harnesses experience a 360-view of Seoul as they glide over a 11-meter long bridge 541 meters in the air. This is definitely on my bucket list for our next trip to Seoul...I'm not quite sure I'll be able to convince Brent to take on this challenge with me however.
So whether you want your heart beating out of your chest as you enjoy the open-air walk across the Sky Bridge or you just want to enjoy a coffee or tea from the lounge, I would highly recommend adding Lotte World Tower to your must-do list on your next visit to Seoul.
So whether you want your heart beating out of your chest as you enjoy the open-air walk across the Sky Bridge or you just want to enjoy a coffee or tea from the lounge, I would highly recommend adding Lotte World Tower to your must-do list on your next visit to Seoul.
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