Freeclimber quits Seoul skyscraper attempt after security stops him

A web of security trapped a 55-year-old freeclimber dubbed the ‘French Spiderman’ while scaling the world’s fifth highest building. 

French urban freeclimber Alain Robert managed to get more than halfway up the 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul before security officers forced him to abandon the ascent.

His daredevil antics were curtailed because of bureaucratic red tape – he had not received prior permission from the people in charge of the skyscraper, which soars 555m into the air.

Urban climber Alain Robert of France scales the exterior of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul on June 6

You would be hard-pushed to believe he suffers from vertigo: Alain Robert also describes himself as '66 per cent disabled' 

You would be hard-pushed to believe he suffers from vertigo: Alain Robert also describes himself as ’66 per cent disabled’ 

Alain Robert made his way up the building bare-handed and without ropes as staff pursued him from inside the structure

Alain Robert made his way up the building bare-handed and without ropes as staff pursued him from inside the structure

A fire service ladder attempts to reach 'French Spiderman' Alain Robert, who holds a world record for urban climbing

A fire service ladder attempts to reach ‘French Spiderman’ Alain Robert, who holds a world record for urban climbing

‘It’s regrettable,’ said You In-sik, a spokesman for the Lotte World Tower. ‘He climbed without permission. It’s dangerous.’

Robert, who suffers from vertigo but describes climbing as his ‘passion’, made his way up the building bare-handed and without ropes as staff pursued him from inside the structure.

He said: ‘I climbed about 75 storeys and then after that, it was a bit like cat and mouse. Finally, I decided to surrender.’

Taking a different route up the side of the 123-storey building, which is the tallest in South Korea, and the fifth tallest in the world, the French climber was forced to surrender to security officials and abandon his attempt

Taking a different route up the side of the 123-storey building, which is the tallest in South Korea, and the fifth tallest in the world, the French climber was forced to surrender to security officials and abandon his attempt

With his climbing brought to an abrupt halt, Alain Robert is hoisted to a deck of the Lotte World Tower after scaling part of the exterior of the building, in Seoul

With his climbing brought to an abrupt halt, Alain Robert is hoisted to a deck of the Lotte World Tower after scaling part of the exterior of the building, in Seoul

French climber Alain Robert, after being stopped, said: 'I may get a hefty fine... but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea'

French climber Alain Robert, after being stopped, said: ‘I may get a hefty fine… but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea’

The climber was taken to the rooftop on a maintenance cradle and arrested. 

Robert also had to hand over his passport to security, before being taken from the building for questioning. 

As he awaited processing by police he explained that his climb was to celebrate the recent peace-making efforts between the two Koreas and he hoped the authorities would take that into account.

The skyscraper features one of the world’s fastest and longest elevators, which can carry 54 people from the basement to the 121st floor in less than a minute

The skyscraper features one of the world’s fastest and longest elevators, which can carry 54 people from the basement to the 121st floor in less than a minute

‘I may get a hefty fine… but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea,’ Robert said.

‘That is my way of saying thank you to Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in.’

In the last two months the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea has twice met the South’s president, the two men exchanging smiles and hugs after years of heightened tensions.

After a 'cat and mouse game' with security, the French Spiderman has to hand over his passport to waiting authorities in South Korea

After a ‘cat and mouse game’ with security, the French Spiderman has to hand over his passport to waiting authorities in South Korea

The urban climber is immediately arrested after being intercepted during his climb of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, as he attempted to reach the top of the 123-story skyscraper to celebrate the recent peacemaking efforts between the two Koreas

The urban climber is immediately arrested after being intercepted during his climb of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, as he attempted to reach the top of the 123-story skyscraper to celebrate the recent peacemaking efforts between the two Koreas

Although he is smiling here, the French Spiderman was worried about receiving a hefty fine from authorities in South Korea

Although he is smiling here, the French Spiderman was worried about receiving a hefty fine from authorities in South Korea

Nabbed: Alain Robert is led away by police. He has been arrested numerous times for his climbing exploits, across the globe

Nabbed: Alain Robert is led away by police. He has been arrested numerous times for his climbing exploits, across the globe

Several fire trucks and police were sent to the Seoul building after a security guard spotted the French climber.

Robert has scaled more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for ‘most buildings climbed unassisted’ according to Guinness World Records.

His successes include many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and iconic buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, where he used suction devices and a safety rope as it has no hand or footholds.

Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 per cent disabled. He has been arrested numerous times for his exploits.

This photo shows a view of Lotte Tower (front ) and Namsan tower (rear) amid the Seoul city skyline and Han river during sunset. The skyscraper is the fifth tallest in the world

This photo shows a view of Lotte Tower (front ) and Namsan tower (rear) amid the Seoul city skyline and Han river during sunset. The skyscraper is the fifth tallest in the world



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