A large shark stuck in South Korea canal has attracted more than 600,000 visitors to the southern port city of Busan as rescuers attempt to free the 3.5-metre animal after it spent more than a week trapped in the narrow waterway.
The shark, nicknamed Bukang-i after Busan’s North Port, was first spotted on 18 September in a canal at a waterfront park, where it has since become an unexpected tourist attraction.
Experts believe the animal is a bronze whaler shark that followed prey from the sea into the canal before becoming unable to find its way back to open water.
Busan Shark Rescue Operation Begins
The coastguard initially attempted to drive the shark out of the canal on the day it was discovered, but the operation was suspended after about six hours.
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Scientists advised authorities against forcing the animal towards the canal’s exit, warning that such an approach could injure the shark or cause it to become aggressive.
Rescue efforts resumed on Tuesday morning, when coastguard boats used jets of water behind the shark in an attempt to guide it towards the mouth of the canal.
Officials said the method was based on the rescue of a great white shark that became trapped in shallow waters off Massachusetts in 2004.
However, the first attempt was unsuccessful after the shark managed to move past the boats and swim back into the canal.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science said the shark remained stable, but officials warned that its ability to feed and move freely had been restricted.
Authorities said the longer the animal remained trapped, the greater the risk that its condition could deteriorate.
600,000 Visitors Flock to See Shark
The 3.5-metre shark in Busan has drawn an extraordinary crowd, with the North Port Waterfront Park recording 607,000 visits between 19 and 28 September, according to the city.
The park normally attracts about 2,000 people a day on holidays, making the sudden surge in visitors particularly significant.
Many residents and tourists have gathered along the waterfront to watch the shark whenever it comes close enough to the surface.
Kim Jung-sook, 62, visited the canal on Tuesday to say goodbye to the animal as rescue efforts continued.
“I’ve grown attached to it after seeing it here for a few days … I feel a bit sad,” she told the Maeil Shinmun newspaper.
The unusual attraction has also captured the attention of Busan’s mayor, Chun Jae-soo, who described the shark as having considerable appeal.
“It really has star quality. It comes up every five to 10 minutes,” Chun told CBS radio. “It’s just so pretty.”
Busan Gives Shark ‘Shafluencer’ Title
The city has gone further by naming the shark an honorary publicity ambassador and giving it the unusual title “Shafluencer”.
The decision followed an Instagram poll in which 91% of respondents supported the proposal.
Boogi, Busan’s city mascot, is expected to accept the honorary certificate on behalf of the shark.
The development has added a light-hearted dimension to an otherwise serious rescue operation, as officials continue working to return the animal safely to the sea.
Eight-year-old Lee Do-yoon also visited the waterfront with his father to see the shark before its expected departure.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the rescue, the young visitor remained optimistic about the animal’s future.
“It’s OK,” he said. “Bukang-i is going to meet its friends.”
Why Are More Sharks Being Seen in South Korea?
The South Korea shark sighting has also drawn attention to a broader increase in shark activity in the country’s waters.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science recorded 46 large sharks off South Korea’s east coast during the first half of this year.
That figure was nearly four times higher than the number recorded during the same period a year earlier.
The fisheries institute attributed the increase to warmer seas and a greater abundance of fish that serve as prey for sharks.
Sharks are not unusual in South Korean waters, but the presence of such a large animal inside a narrow urban canal has created an exceptional situation for both authorities and residents.
For now, rescuers are focused on getting Bukang-i safely out of the canal while avoiding actions that could place additional stress on the animal.
The spectacle has transformed a routine waterfront area into one of Busan’s biggest temporary attractions, with hundreds of thousands of people visiting to catch a glimpse of the stranded shark.
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