Towering Worry: Small Holes Cause Big Jitters

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — For the developers of the world's sixth tallest building near Seoul, a mysteriously shrinking lake and the appearance of small sinkholes in residential neighborhoods couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. Plans for the super-high tower first surfaced in 1995 and it took another 15 years to get a green light after the Air Force objected to it as a risk to a nearby military airport used for VIP flights. Lee Won-woo, CEO of Lotte Moolsan, the tower's builder, told reporters earlier this month that Lotte has pumped water into the lake to maintain the water level while a separate inspection by Korean and British experts is underway. Earlier this month, the city took the unusual step of forming an advisory team of lawyers, engineers, architects, environmentalists and university professors to submit their opinions about the construction site. Last week, Seoul denied Lotte approval to open a low-rise shopping mall that is part of the development and said the company needs to resolve traffic problems and improve safety at the construction site as well as disaster prevention plans. Lotte Group, a conglomerate with businesses spanning retail, hotels, food and chemicals, plans to fill the $3.5 billion complex including the Korean Peninsula's tallest tower with a high-class hotel, office space, apartments and an observatory. "After Sewol, the public's sentiment has taken a turn to stress safety over any other values including economic development," said Park Chang-kun, a professor of civil engineering at Kwandong University, who is on the Seoul government's advisory team on the tower and one of the most vigorous speakers about its safety issues.

Topics:  south korea ap    plans   air force   vip   lee won-woo   ceo   lotte moolsan   british   earlier   lotte group   korean peninsula   after sewol   park chang-kun   kwandong university   seoul    for   seoul   lotte   korean   small   holes   tower   safety   construction   site   advisory   lake   tallest   team   including   month   development   water   
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