Estonian aerial athlete Jaan Roose will attempt to cross a 160-metre long highline suspended 120 metres above central Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

Roose, a three-time slackline world champion, will step out on to a narrow polyester ribbon between the Koreana hotel and the Dong-A Media Center, near the capital city's famous Gwanghwamun palace and square.

Previous records

The 34-year-old has made a name for himself slacklining dramatic urban environments, such as his 185-metre high feat between Qatar's Iconic Towers.

In 2024, he became the first person to slackline the strait of Messina between mainland Italy and Sicily, completing the 3.6km traverse despite a fall near the end, caught by his safety harness. Earlier this month, he covered 14.7km over 12 hours on a line above the Danube in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Seoul walk

Large crowds in Seoul are expected to watch Roose walk the slackline – twice, at 1pm and 4pm local time – if the weather allows. The walk will be postponed if average wind speeds reach 10m/s or gusts hit 15m/s. Today's forecast is sunny with light breezes.

Roose said a visit in 2022 to South Korea inspired his Gwanghwamun walk.

On that trip, Roose encountered jultagi, Korea's traditional tightrope walking, which Unesco added to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Jultagi – more than acrobatics

Unlike tightrope walking elsewhere, jultagi is as much comedy as acrobatics. The walker sings, jokes and dances on the rope, trading banter with a clown on the ground as musicians play.

Roose's walk above Seoul continues his dramatic feats in urban environments. He previously walked at a height of 185 metres between Qatar's Iconic Towers. This time, he will again attempt to maintain balance on a narrow polyester ribbon and cover 160 metres.

The Gwanghwamun palace and square are among Seoul's most famous historical landmarks. Roose will walk a line above the area, offering spectators a spectacular sight.

The weather forecast promises sunny conditions with light breezes, which should allow the walk to proceed at the scheduled time. However, if wind speeds exceed the set limit, the event will be postponed.

Roose is one of the most famous figures in slacklining. He is a three-time world champion and has performed in challenging urban environments around the world.

His crossing of the strait of Messina is one of the most significant achievements in slacklining history. While covering 3.6km, he fell near the end, but his safety harness caught him and he completed the traverse.

His walk above the Danube in Bratislava also demonstrated his endurance and skill – 14.7km over 12 hours.

The Seoul walk will join this list. If the weather allows, Roose will step out on to the line twice, at 1pm and 4pm local time. Crowds are expected to gather to watch his performance.

Jultagi is Korea's traditional tightrope walking. In 2011, it was added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage. Unlike tightrope walking elsewhere, jultagi combines acrobatics with comedy: the walker sings, jokes and dances on the rope, trading banter with a clown on the ground as musicians play.

Roose said that during a visit to South Korea in 2022 he encountered this traditional art and was inspired by it.