The feat
Jaan Roose, a three-time slackline world champion, just pulled off an absolute main character moment in South Korea. The 34-year-old athlete successfully completed his first of two planned highline walks on Thursday, navigating a 160-metre-long polyester ribbon suspended 120 metres in the air. He set up the line between the Koreana hotel and the Dong-A Media Center, right in the heart of Seoul near the iconic Gyeongbokgung palace and Gwanghwamun square.
The background
If you haven't heard of him, Roose lowkey lives for these high-stakes urban settings. He previously made headlines for a 185-metre crossing between the Katara towers in Qatar, and in 2024, he smashed a 3.6km traverse over the strait of Messina. He also spent 12 hours walking a 14.7km line over the Danube in Bratislava just last month.
He says he was inspired to bring this to Seoul after visiting in 2022 and discovering jultagi, Korea’s traditional tightrope walking. Unlike the solo intensity of his sport, jultagi is a full vibe—it's basically a mix of acrobatics, singing, and comedy where the walker banters with a clown on the ground.
What's next
A second walk is scheduled for 4pm local time today, though weather could make the plot thicken. If winds hit 10m/s or gusts reach 15m/s, the team will have to postpone. Fingers crossed the weather keeps its chill.
Why it matters
Roose is bridging extreme sports with ancient cultural heritage, showing that even high-stakes athletic feats can be a nod to local traditions like jultagi, which is officially recognized by UNESCO.
