For nearly 30 years, Seo Seung-ho has been cleaning the windows of the tallest skyscraper in SeoulLotte World Tower, whose spire stands 550 meters above sea level. It is a job that he considers reliable and well-paid, but for which he must confront his greatest fear: the heights. Every day, from the 125th floor, he and his colleagues climb into a gondola that descends the length of the fifth tallest building in the world, in order to keep its glass facades sparkling. “I was afraid of heights, so I never thought I would do this job” at the base, confides Seo Seung-ho. “But I was struggling to make a living and this job is relatively well paid compared to others, so I took my courage in both hands and went for it”he adds.
His team, made up of eight people (himself included), barely manages to give the tower, which has 42,000 windows, a complete clean each year. Their main challenge is that of the weather: the gondola is “strongly influenced by the wind” And “we can’t clean every day because of the weather”Mr. Seo explains. A gust of wind once knocked the window cleaners off balance in the gondola. Another time, they had to wait an hour, stuck in the gondola buffeted by strong winds, until the weather calmed down.
65 to 70 working days per year
These weather conditions, not only wind but also rain and snow, mean that “we usually start in April and work until the end of September or the beginning of October”either “around 65 to 70 days per year” only, develops Seo Seung-ho. Cleaners apply diatomaceous earth, a natural mineral powder, to the windows. An effective product, because it polishes the window glass without scratching it, and prevents residents below from finding themselves splashed with soapy water. “It’s a great method, but when the wind blows, the rough particles sting the eyes”Mr. Seo nuance.
In addition to the weather, the “conical and slender shape of the tower makes it difficult to lower and clean” for washers, who prefer “straight and square buildings”. “It often happens that the cage is pushed to the side and twists on the way down”explains Seo Seung-Ho. Despite everything, he feels that his work is “very rewarding”especially because it offers a “spectacular view” in Seoul. Lotte World Tower houses a shopping mall and welcomes nearly 50 million visitors a year. The observation deck on its 123rd floor has become one of the most popular attractions in South Korea. As he cleans the windows on this floor, Mr. Seo feels “iron” and has the impression of “contribute a little” to show visitors the best of the city.