Walking a Tightrope 120 Meters Above Sejong-daero... World Champion Surprise Performance

South Korea's first high-altitude slackline performance will take place 120 meters above the Gwanghwamun area in Seoul on October 1.

World-renowned slackline athlete Jaan Roose is scheduled to perform by climbing onto a tightrope connecting the Koreana Hotel and the Dong-A Media Center.

Slackline is a sport where athletes maintain balance on a narrow band, about 2.5 to 5 cm wide, tightly installed between two points, performing walking, jumping, spinning, and various other techniques.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that the sport's scope has recently expanded to high-altitude performances walking across canyons or between skyscrapers, gaining popularity mainly among the younger generation.

Jaan Roose, who will perform the high-altitude stunt, is from Estonia and holds many records, including winning the slackline world championship three times.

In 2024, he attempted a slackline crossing of about 3.6 km across the Strait of Messina connecting mainland Italy and Sicily, successfully crossing the strait.

The performance can be viewed through large outdoor electronic billboards installed at the Koreana Hotel and the Dong-A Media Center, and it will also be broadcast live on the Seoul Metropolitan Government YouTube channel.

Experience zones with heights of about 30 cm and 50 cm will be operated around Cheonggye Plaza so that citizens can experience slacklining firsthand.

Skateboard and breaking performances will also be held to liven up the atmosphere.

Anyone can freely participate in the event without a separate application or entry fee.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to prevent safety accidents by intensively deploying on-site safety personnel and separating viewing areas from pedestrian routes.

Cho Sung-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Tourism and Sports, stated, "Seoul is an attractive city where nature and the city center closely blend, allowing various urban spaces to be utilized as sports stages," adding, "We will continue to discover and attract international sports events utilizing Seoul's diverse spaces as stages to widely promote Seoul's dynamic charm."

(Photo provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.