The central business district of Seoul came to a standstill Tuesday as Estonian aerial athlete Jaan Roose successfully navigated a 160-meter-long highline suspended 120 meters above the bustling streets of the South Korean capital. The performance, which took place between the Koreana Hotel and the Dong-A Media Center, marked the first time a high-altitude slackline walk of this magnitude has been attempted in the country’s history. Thousands of office workers and tourists gathered in Gwanghwamun Square, their phones pointed toward the sky, as the 34-year-old three-time world champion stepped off a skyscraper’s ledge into the open air.
The event began promptly at 1:00 p.m. following a dramatic countdown displayed on large digital screens throughout the district. As the midday sun hit the glass facades of the surrounding high-rises, Roose moved with calculated precision across a narrow ribbon of synthetic webbing. Below him, the relentless flow of Seoul’s traffic continued, though many pedestrians stopped in their tracks, creating a sea of spectators near the city’s historic Gyeongbokgung Palace. The walk was not merely a crossing but a choreographed display of balance and nerves that challenged the limits of human composure.
Organizers from Red Bull, who sponsored the event, noted that the 120-meter height posed significant challenges, including unpredictable wind tunnels created by the dense architecture of the Sejong-daero boulevard. Despite these variables, Roose maintained a steady pace, pausing at several intervals to perform stunts that drew audible gasps from the crowd. At the midpoint of the 160-meter traverse, the athlete sat cross-legged on the line before lying completely flat on his back, suspended over a drop equivalent to approximately 40 stories.
Jaan Roose completes slackline walk high above central Seoul and the technical mastery of highlining
Highlining, a discipline of slacklining performed at great heights, requires a different set of skills than traditional tightrope walking. Unlike a steel cable, which is rigid and heavy, a slackline is made of dynamic webbing that stretches and bounces under the athlete’s weight. This elasticity means the walker must constantly compensate for the line’s lateral and vertical movements. For Roose, who has spent over a decade perfecting this craft, the Seoul walk was a demonstration of the "flow state" required to survive in high-stakes environments.
The equipment used in the Seoul crossing was a marvel of modern outdoor engineering. The primary line was backed up by a secondary safety line, and Roose was attached to both via a high-strength leash and harness. While the safety gear prevents a fatal fall, it does not mitigate the psychological pressure of being suspended in a high-wind urban corridor. Experts in the sport note that the visual "noise" of a city—moving cars, flashing billboards, and the lack of a stable horizon—can often be more disorienting than walking over a natural canyon.
Roose’s successful crossing in Seoul adds another prestigious achievement to a career defined by pushing boundaries. As a three-time slackline world champion, the Estonian has transitioned from competitive trick-lining—where athletes perform flips and spins on low lines—to world-record-breaking highline expeditions. His ability to maintain focus amidst the distractions of a major metropolis has made him one of the most sought-after aerial performers in the world.
Global achievements leading to the Seoul performance
Before arriving in South Korea, Jaan Roose had already established himself as a global icon in the extreme sports community. In early 2024, he achieved international headlines by becoming the first person to attempt a slackline crossing of the Strait of Messina, which separates mainland Italy from the island of Sicily. During that 3.6-kilometer traverse, Roose battled extreme fatigue and wind for nearly three hours. Although he suffered a fall just 80 meters from the finish line, he regained his footing and completed the walk, setting a symbolic record for the longest distance ever attempted on a highline.
His portfolio also includes a high-profile walk in Qatar, where he traversed a line 185 meters above the ground between the iconic Katara Towers in Doha. That event, much like the one in Seoul, was designed to showcase the intersection of modern architecture and human athletic potential. In July 2024, Roose further demonstrated his endurance by covering 14.7 kilometers over a 12-hour period on a line suspended above the Danube River in Bratislava, Slovakia.
These feats have served as a prelude to his Asian tour, with Seoul being a primary target due to its unique blend of ultra-modern skyscrapers and deep-rooted cultural traditions. The logistical preparation for the Seoul walk took months of coordination with city officials, building managers, and safety inspectors. The goal was to ensure that the "Daredevil Jaan Roose completes slackline walk high above central Seoul" headline would be associated with a flawless execution of skill rather than a safety incident.
Cultural resonance and the influence of Jultagi
While slacklining is a relatively modern sport, the concept of rope walking is deeply embedded in South Korean culture. Roose has publicly stated that his visit to the country in 2022 provided the primary inspiration for the Gwanghwamun walk. During that trip, he was introduced to jultagi, the traditional Korean art of tightrope walking. Unlike Western rope walking, which often focuses solely on the physical feat, jultagi is a comprehensive performance art that includes music, dialogue, and comedy.
In 2011, UNESCO added jultagi to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In traditional performances, a tightrope walker known as an eoreum-sani engages in a witty exchange with a clown on the ground, often satirizing the social issues of the day while performing acrobatic leaps on a hemp rope. Musicians provide a rhythmic backdrop with traditional instruments like the janggu (drum) and piri (oboe).
Roose sought to pay homage to this tradition during his second pass across the Seoul skyline. After reaching the Dong-A Media Center, he turned back toward the Koreana Hotel for a return journey. During this leg, he incorporated more "flair" into his movements, hanging from the line by a single arm and eventually dangling by his feet. These maneuvers mirrored the playful and daring spirit of jultagi, bridging the gap between an ancient Korean folk art and a 21st-century extreme sport.
Public reaction and urban impact
The atmosphere on the ground in Seoul was a mix of anxiety and awe. Public safety officers were stationed throughout Cheonggye Plaza and Gwanghwamun to manage the crowds that had swelled far beyond typical lunchtime numbers. "Just looking at him makes my legs go weak," said Kim Young-sook, a local office worker who took an extended break to witness the event. "I can’t imagine how he can do that without being scared. It’s incredible to see this in the middle of our city."
Other spectators, like Choi Eun-jung, expressed a sense of relief when Roose reached the safety of the rooftop platforms. "I know he’s a professional, but it’s still a little frightening to watch," she remarked. The tension was palpable each time the wind caught the line, causing it to oscillate. However, Roose’s calm demeanor appeared to steady the nerves of those watching from below.
To capitalize on the public interest, organizers set up "trial" slacklines at the nearby Cheonggye Plaza. These lines were positioned just 30 to 50 centimeters off the ground, allowing residents and tourists to experience the difficulty of balancing on the narrow webbing. This interactive element helped demystify the sport, showing the public that while Roose makes it look effortless, even standing on a slackline requires significant core strength and mental focus.
The future of aerial sports in urban environments
The success of the Seoul highline walk is expected to pave the way for more "urban adventure" events in major Asian hubs. City planners and tourism boards are increasingly looking at these spectacles as a way to promote "vertical tourism" and showcase city landmarks from new perspectives. By transforming the space between buildings into a stage, athletes like Roose are redefining how the public interacts with the built environment.
For Jaan Roose, the Seoul crossing represents the completion of a major chapter in his career, but it is unlikely to be his last. The athlete has expressed interest in finding even more challenging environments, potentially involving higher altitudes or longer distances in other global capitals. His ability to draw a crowd and command the attention of a city as busy as Seoul demonstrates the universal appeal of human daring.
As the 4:00 p.m. encore performance concluded, the crowds dispersed back into the subways and office towers of Seoul, leaving the skyline empty once more. The event left a lasting impression on the city, serving as a reminder of the thin line between the impossible and the achievable. The "Daredevil Jaan Roose completes slackline walk high above central Seoul" event will likely be remembered as a defining moment in the city’s modern cultural history, successfully marrying high-tech athleticism with a respect for local heritage.
