Seo Seung-ho has been cleaning the windows of South Korea’s tallest buildings for almost thirty years. Despite his fear of heights, he finds this job to be reliable and well-paying.
Each day, starting from the 125th floor of the Lotte World Tower, Seo and his team of cleaners use a special “gondola” to work their way down the building and keep it sparkling clean.
Rising 555 meters (1,820 feet) over the Seoul skyline, this glass-and-steel tower is one of the tallest in the world.
Seo admitted, “I was afraid of heights, so I never thought I would do this job. But I had trouble making a living, and the job pays relatively well compared with other occupations, so I gathered my courage to start.”
Weather poses a challenge for Seo and his team, as the wind can heavily impact their work in the gondola. They face extreme winds and sometimes have to wait for the weather to calm down before they can continue cleaning.
Despite the weather obstacles, Seo and his team manage to clean the tower’s 42,000 windows only once a year due to the wind, rain, and snow.
Seo described the tower’s shape as challenging for window cleaners, as its cone structure makes it difficult to descend and clean. Their method using diatomaceous earth helps polish the glass without scratching it, but it can be tough to work in windy or hot conditions.
Even with the difficulties, Seo finds his job rewarding as he gets to see a magnificent view of Seoul from above. The Lotte World Tower attracts millions of visitors annually, and Seo takes pride in helping show the city at its best to these visitors.
Seo believes that even after he retires, he will continue to feel proud whenever he sees the tower, as it has become a familiar and meaningful part of his life in Seoul.
hs/ceb/qan
