BUSAN, South Korea | A 3.5-meter shark trapped in a canal at Busan’s North Port has become an unlikely celebrity, drawing more than 600,000 visitors while authorities struggle to guide the animal back to open water.
The shark, nicknamed “Bukangi,” was first spotted in the artificial waterway at North Port Waterfront Park on September 18. Authorities believe it is a bronze whaler shark, although earlier assessments by fisheries experts identified it more generally as a large warm-water shark. It has remained inside the canal for nearly two weeks, repeatedly circling the waterway and avoiding efforts to lead it toward the sea.
A rescue operation on Tuesday involved five vessels spraying streams of water behind the shark in an attempt to guide it toward the canal’s exit. The effort was abandoned after the shark repeatedly swam past the boats or dived away from the water streams. Officials said another attempt could be made later this week using a specially designed net at least 50 meters long to channel the animal toward open water.
Busan officials said the shark’s activity and breathing remained stable during a recent inspection by the National Institute of Fisheries Science. However, authorities are concerned that its continued confinement could eventually weaken the animal, particularly because no feeding activity has been observed since it entered the canal.
The shark’s unexpected stay has transformed the waterfront into a major tourist attraction. More than 600,000 people had visited the site by Monday, including about 480,000 during the four-day Chuseok holiday. The park normally receives only about 2,000 visitors a day during holiday periods, according to Busan officials.
The city has embraced the unusual visitor. Busan named the shark “Bukangi,” combining Bukhang, the Korean name for North Port, with the Korean suffix “-i.” The city also designated the shark an honorary promotional ambassador following a social media poll that drew about 8,000 participants, with 91% supporting the idea, according to Reuters.
The North Port Waterfront Park where the shark is trapped is itself part of a major transformation of Busan’s historic port district. The city’s North Port redevelopment began in 2008 as authorities sought to shift some port functions, revitalize the old downtown area and create new public waterfront spaces. The first phase opened public facilities, including a 1.3-kilometer canal and waterfront parks, in 2022 after the North Port area had been largely inaccessible to the public for decades.
Busan’s North Port remains an important part of the city’s maritime identity and redevelopment plans, with the city promoting the area as a center for tourism, culture and international maritime activity. The shark’s unexpected arrival has now brought a different kind of attention to the newly opened waterfront.
Officials say the next rescue attempt will focus on using a net to guide Bukangi toward the sea while minimizing stress to the animal. Until then, the shark continues to circle the canal as crowds gather along the waterfront to watch one of Busan’s most unusual temporary attractions.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
