Loose part falls from Lotte World Mall balcony, injures man
A metal fastener on a glass railing system at the Lotte World Mall in Jamil, southern Seoul. / Yonhap
By Lee Ji-hye
A man was injured at the newly-opened Lotte World Mall in southern Seoul this week when part of a glass railing system on the second floor dislodged and fell, striking him on the head.
The component, about the length of a credit card, fell on Wednesday and cut the 40-year-old man’s forehead, causing him to bleed, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.
Lotte officials initially said the incident occured Thurdsday, but later clarified that the incident occured Wednesday.
The man, who worked for a company subcontracted by Lotte E&C, was taken from the mall in Jamsil to a hospital. He reportedly received two stitches before being discharged.
The part was a metal fastener meant to hold together glass plates forming a railing at the edge of a balcony. Yonhap reported that the piece was six millimeters thick.
"We feel deep regret over this incident, and we are planning to test the metal components that hold the glass plates together near the escalator," Park Young-min, a Lotte public relations officer, said by phone, adding that an investigation was underway.
Yonhap quoted a Lotte official as saying a maintenance worker may have dislodged the part while cleaning.
The incident came amid anxiety over the newly-constructed complex, which the company insists is safe. Seoul City has allowed for the partial opening of the facilities but says it is monitoring safety.
The complex caused concern during construction when sinkholes appeared near the site. Seoul City blamed poor construction of subway line No. 9 for the holes.
Some citizens have also been concerned with cracks in the floor of the 123-floor Lotte World Tower, which is partially open. However, Lotte officials said this week the cracks are markings intended to recreate the appearance of Seoul’s streets in the 1930s to the 1970s.