Bukang-i Rescue Efforts Draw 600,000 Visitors in South Korea

What changed

A 3.5-metre shark nicknamed Bukang-i has been trapped in a narrow canal at Busan’s North Port since 18 September, turning the waterfront park into an unexpected attraction. South Korea’s coastguard has twice tried to guide it back to sea, including a water-jet operation on Tuesday, but the latest attempt was suspended after the shark slipped past the boats and returned to the canal.

Why it matters

The shark is stable, according to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, but its restricted movement and feeding could weaken it the longer it remains there. That makes the rescue a careful balancing act: pushing harder might get Bukang-i out, but scientists previously warned that forcing it could harm the animal or make it aggressive.

The scale of the public response has transformed a wildlife rescue into a city event. The park recorded an estimated 607,000 visits from 19 to 28 September, compared with its usual draw of about 2,000 people on a holiday day. Busan has even named the shark an honorary publicity ambassador, calling it a “Shafluencer.”

Officials believe Bukang-i may be a bronze whaler shark, though the species has not been confirmed. The immediate question is simpler: whether it can find the canal’s mouth on its own, or whether another intervention will be needed before its limited access to food and space takes a serious toll.