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I’m an avid world traveler, photographer, software developer, and digital storyteller.

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South Korea and Guam Day 7: The Highest Point in Seoul

1 January 2026

Today we ventured into the heart of the city and toured the literal high point of Seoul, the observation deck at Lotte World Tower.

This is a skyscraper among skyscrapers. The observation deck begins on the 118th floor, a mere 485 meters / 1591 feet above ground level. And then goes up a few floors from that. Whee!

This is what it looks like from the ground:

Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea

Lotte wasted no effort in making a dramatic presentation of the view from the top.

Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea

Once the reveal happened, we had the chance to walk around and take our own photos. In case anyone doubts that Seoul is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, here is evidence.

And these views!

An expansive aerial view over Seoul from the Lotte World Tower, showing dense clusters of high-rise apartment blocks and low-rise neighborhoods stretching to distant mountains under a clear blue sky. A large stadium and the Han River are visible toward the right, with city development reaching to the hazy horizon.
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea
A high-altitude view over Seoul from the Lotte World Tower observation deck, showing a vast cityscape of dense apartment blocks and high-rises stretching to the horizon under a clear blue winter sky, with the Han River curving across the right side and bridges spanning it.
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea
An elevated aerial view over Seoul from the Lotte World Tower, showing the broad Han River crossed by long bridges, with a dense sprawl of high-rise apartment blocks and city buildings stretching to distant mountain ridges under a clear blue winter sky.
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea
A high-altitude view over Seoul from an observation deck, looking out through a window across the wide Han River as it winds through dense clusters of apartment towers and city blocks, with bridges crossing the water and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea

On the way back down, the elevator provided quite the show of its own:

Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea

(Mouse over or tap on the markers to see the photos there. Use the button to adjust the map’s position and zoom.)

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