A 160-meter-long “skyway” will be suspended 120 meters above the ground between buildings in central Seoul on Thursday, as Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose takes on an elevated challenge over Gwanghwamun.
Roose will walk along a single slackline connecting the Koreana Hotel and the Donga Media Center, attempting the first high-altitude slackline performance across central Seoul.
Slacklining is an extreme sport in which athletes balance and walk on a flat, flexible line about 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide stretched between two points. Athletes can also perform jumps, spins and other maneuvers using the line's movement and rebound.
The sport began as a recreational activity practiced in natural settings such as parks and mountains, but has expanded to high-altitude performances across canyons and between skyscrapers.
Roose, 33, is a three-time slackline world champion who holds multiple records. In 2024, he became the first person to cross the Strait of Messina between mainland Italy and Sicily on a slackline, covering about 3.6 kilometers. He is also known as the first athlete to perform a double backflip on a slackline.
The performance will be held twice, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Visitors will be able to watch the performance on large outdoor screens installed at the Koreana Hotel and the Donga Media Center. It will also be livestreamed on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s YouTube channel.
A range of hands-on programs and performances will also be held around Cheonggye Plaza on the same day, giving visitors a chance to experience extreme sports up close.
Visitors can also try balancing on a slackline at experience zones featuring lines set 30 and 50 centimeters above the ground. The programs will run from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with skateboarding and breaking performances also scheduled.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com