Daredevil Completes 160m Slackline Walk 120m Above Seoul

Jaan Roose, a 34-year-old Estonian aerial athlete, has completed a 160-metre long highline walk suspended 120 metres above central Seoul, in what organisers called South Korea’s first high-altitude slackline performance. The event drew a large crowd and was part of a scheduled performance with a second show at 4pm.

The highline walk was between the Koreana hotel and the Dong-A Media Center, near the Gyeongbokgung palace and Gwanghwamun square. Jaan Roose is a three-time slackline world champion and has made a name for himself slacklining dramatic urban environments.

Roose has previously completed impressive feats, including becoming the first person to slackline the strait of Messina between mainland Italy and Sicily in 2024, and covering 14.7km on a line above the Danube in Bratislava, Slovakia last month.

The event was inspired by Jaan Roose's visit to South Korea in 2022, and it also drew attention to Jultagi, Korea’s traditional tightrope walking, which was added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

## Why it matters The successful completion of the highline walk is a significant achievement for Jaan Roose and the sport of slacklining. It also highlights the importance of preserving traditional cultural heritage, such as Jultagi, and the impact that modern performances can have on promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

The crowd that gathered to watch the event was amazed by Jaan Roose's skill and bravery, with many expressing their admiration and concern for his safety. The event was a testament to the power of human endurance and the thrill of watching a daredevil push the limits of what is possible.