"French Spiderman" arrested after trying to scale a skyscraper in South Korea

[Borealis]

http://time.com/5303989/french-spiderman-alain-robert-seoul/

An urban free-climber known as the “French Spiderman” made it halfway up the world’s fifth highest building before security forced him to abandon the skyscraper in the South Korean
capital.

Barehanded and with no ropes, Alain Robert was attempting scale the 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul, but the 55-year-old was chased down by workers inside the building,
intercepted and arrested, Agence France-Presse reports.

“I climbed about 75 stories and then after that, it was a bit like cat and mouse,” Robert told AFP. “Finally, I decided to surrender.”

Robert told AFP that his climb was intended to celebrate the recent peace initiatives between North and South Korea.

“I may get a hefty fine… but I did it because of what is happening now between South Korea and North Korea,” Robert said. “That is my way of saying thank you to Kim Jong Un and
Moon Jae-in.”

The leaders of North and South Korea have made recent steps toward reconciliation following years of frosty relations. Next week, President Trump is slated to meet North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore for a historic summit to discuss denuclearization.

Having scaled over 100 structures without any safety equipment, Robert holds a Guinness World Record for most buildings climbed unassisted. His triumphs include the Eiffel Tower,
the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

But Robert has also suffered from a number of accidents that says have left him partially disabled.

“It’s regrettable,” said You In-sik, a spokesman for the Lotte World Tower, according to AFP. “He climbed without permission. It’s dangerous.”

Robert has been arrested several times for his prior escapades.

[LZTYBRN]

I thought this was about the same guy that saved the kid dangling off the balcony. Why does every France-associated free climber suddenly become "French Spiderman"

[SquidsEye]

Journalists aren't the most creative bunch.

[BryBreadmin]

On 29 September 1982, at 20, he fell 15 metres (49 ft) when his rope came undone while abseiling. He was in a coma for five days and fractured both forearms, his elbow, pelvis and nose. His elbow was also dislocated and a nerve was damaged, leaving him partially paralyzed. He also suffered cerebral edema and vertigo. He underwent six operations on his hands and elbow.
In 1993, he fell 8 metres (26 ft) while showing students how to rely on their legs when climbing. He kept his hands behind his back on an easy route but lost his balance and fell headfirst, shattering both wrists. He went into another coma and spent two months in the hospital.
Friggin bonkers

[ignhelper]

This guy is the original french spiderman, he's been in countless headlines for always climbing up skyscrapers.