Science
Tim Griffith
- The Lotte World Tower is the tallest in South Korea and the fifth tallest in the world.
- The high-rise recently won the Emporis Skyscraper Award, which honors the top ten skyscrapers that have been completed in the previous calendar year.
- The tower features a number of record-breaking features, like an elevator that whizzes people to the 121st floor in one minute.
- It's also built to withstand major disasters like a 9.0 magnitude earthquake or winds as strong as those seen during Hurricane Katrina.
The world is witnessing a massive boom in skyscraper construction, led by nations like China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. This year alone, China built more skyscrapers than at any other time in history.
Amid growing competition for the tallest and most innovative towers, one high-rise in South Korea managed to surpass all others.
Read more: Stunning photos of the 10 best skyscrapers in the world
Earlier this week, the Lotte World Tower in Seoul received the Emporis Skyscraper Award, the world's most renowned prize for high-rise architecture.
The tower's sleek design pales in comparison to its record-shattering features, which include the world's highest glass-bottomed observation deck and the world's fastest elevator.
Take a look at how it was built - and what it looks like now.