Jan Ruth mentions the traditional Korean tightrope walking technique ‘Korean Bounce’ after the Gwanghwamun slackline performance

Interview with Jan Loos, athlete of the high-altitude tightrope sport ‘slackline’

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Hyun-young = "I have known about Korea's traditional tightrope walking since I started 'slackline.' The challenge at Gwanghwamun is meaningful in that it showcases the modern sport of slackline in Korea, where the tradition still remains."

Slackline is an extreme sport where you walk on a thin 2.5cm wide rope installed at high altitude while relying on a single safety rope attached to your waist.

Jan Roos is a star athlete from Estonia who is a three-time slackline world champion.

I met Jan Loos, who successfully performed a slackline performance between high-rise buildings in the middle of Gwanghwamun on the 1st, at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 3rd just before leaving the country.

Ruth said, "Slackline has a technique called 'Korean Bounce' that was influenced by Korean tightrope walking," and added, "Slackline and tightrope walking have similarities in terms of technique."

The Korean bounce is a technique in which you lift your body into the air on a rope and then bounce up by hitting the rope with your hips or pelvis. In fact, when Ruth is slacklining, she often shows techniques similar to traditional Korean tightrope walking.

He said that he had a 'very special experience' connecting with the audience through the screen at this Gwanghwamun performance.

Ruth said, "Usually, to the audience, I look like a small dot walking on a high rope, and the movement of the rope is not visible in detail. This time, it was special to be able to see myself performing like an eagle on a large screen and people cheering and clapping. It reminded me of the performance with Madonna in 2012."

Ruth said that the scenery of the line in the middle, with an old palace on one side and buildings on the other, was also incredibly beautiful. He chose Jeju Hallasan Mountain and Lotte Tower as places he would like to try again next time.

He said, “I felt like I was in a history within history,” and “I think many people need to know the charm of Seoul right now, as I feel that the scenery is Korea’s business card. No one will know until they see it.”

After the performance, Ruth chose braised ribs for dinner. “It was really delicious,” he said with a smile, “I ate it last night too.”

Ruth appears to have no fear at all, but in reality, she says she feels fear.

Ruth said, "I think that if I lose my balance or fall, I could get hurt, and I'm afraid. That fear actually makes me focus more on the rope and pay attention to the details." He is also directly involved in installing the lines.

He said to those who challenge themselves to do something special, "When walking on a rope, focus only on one step at that moment. It doesn't have to be a perfect step. The only important thing is to keep moving forward and keep moving on the rope."