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

A high-altitude slackline performance, the first of its kind in Korea, will unfold 120 meters above the Gwanghwamun area in Seoul on October 1.

World-class slackline athlete Jaan Roose is scheduled to climb onto a tightrope connecting the Koreana Hotel and the Dong-A Media Center to put on a performance.

Slackline is a sport in which athletes balance, walk, jump, and perform various tricks on a tight webbing line about 2.5 to 5 cm wide installed between two points.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that the scope of the sport 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 three slackline world championships.

In 2024, he also attempted and successfully crossed a slackline spanning approximately 3.6 kilometers across the Strait of Messina, connecting mainland Italy and Sicily.

The performance can be viewed on 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.

Around the Cheonggye Plaza area, experience zones with heights of about 30 cm and 50 cm will be operated so that citizens can try slacklining themselves.

Skateboard and breaking performances will also take place to liven up the atmosphere.

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

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

Cho Sungho, Director General of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Tourism and Sports, stated, "Seoul is an attractive city where nature and the downtown blend closely, 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 publicize Seoul's dynamic charm."

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