Daredevil Jaan Roose completes slackline walk high above central Seoul

Estonian aerial athlete Jaan Roose, a three‑time slackline world champion, completed the first of two high‑altitude slackline attempts in central Seoul on Thursday, walking a 160‑metre‑long ribbon suspended 120 metres above the city. The line stretched between the Koreana Hotel and the Dong‑A Media Center, a short distance from Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Square. After a televised countdown, Roose stepped off the Koreana roof at 1 p.m., traversed the narrow ribbon, paused mid‑way to sit cross‑legged and then lie flat on his back, before continuing to the opposite building, turning around, and returning to the hotel while performing additional stunts such as hanging by one arm and dangling by his feet. Spectators on the boulevard watched from their phones and the nearby Cheonggye plaza, where low‑level slacklines allowed the public to try the sport.

The performance marked South Korea’s inaugural high‑altitude slackline event and highlighted Roose’s growing reputation for daring urban feats, including a 185‑metre highline between Qatar’s Katara towers, a 3.6‑kilometre crossing of the Strait of Messina in 2024, and a 14.7‑kilometre, 12‑hour walk above the Danube in Bratislava. Roose’s interest in the Korean setting stemmed from a 2022 visit during which he encountered jultagi, the country’s traditional tightrope walking recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The blend of extreme sport with cultural inspiration underscored the event’s significance beyond mere spectacle, positioning slacklining as a bridge between contemporary athleticism and historic performance art.

Crowds reacted with awe and nervous excitement, with onlookers like office worker Kim Young‑sook admitting the sight made her legs feel weak, while others such as Choi Eun‑jung expressed concern despite acknowledging Roose’s professionalism. After completing the walk, the audience applauded, some visibly relieved. A second performance was scheduled for 4 p.m., promising further engagement with the public and reinforcing Seoul’s willingness to host unconventional, high‑profile athletic displays in its historic core.

⚡ Effects Interpreter