BUSAN, South Korea — After nearly two weeks trapped inside a narrow canal, Busan’s unlikely marine celebrity is finally getting a rescue operation.
Authorities on Tuesday launched an effort to guide “Bukang-i,” a 3.5-meter shark, out of the artificial waterway at North Port Waterfront Park and back toward the open sea.
The shark was first spotted on Sept. 18, and its unexpected appearance has drawn more than 600,000 visitors to the waterfront area, turning the trapped animal into an extraordinary tourist attraction.
The Rescue Plan Begins
The Busan Coast Guard, National Institute of Fisheries Science and other agencies began preparations Tuesday for the operation.
Authorities plan to use two vessels to spray streams of water, attempting to guide the shark through the canal and toward the sea.
If that approach fails, officials have prepared a custom-made net designed to fit the artificial waterway, which could be used to direct Bukang-i toward the open water.
Officials had previously attempted to drive the shark away, but the operation was suspended after it failed to persuade the animal to leave the canal.
Why Authorities Decided to Act
Bukang-i’s condition has remained relatively stable.
A field inspection by the National Institute of Fisheries Science found that the shark’s activity and respiration levels were stable. But authorities have become increasingly concerned that remaining in the confined waterway for too long could eventually weaken the animal.
With no feeding activity observed since the shark arrived, officials concluded that allowing it to remain indefinitely was no longer considered viable.
The objective is therefore not to capture the shark for display, but to return it to the marine environment.
From Stranded Shark to Busan Sensation
While Bukang-i’s predicament has presented authorities with a wildlife-management challenge, it has simultaneously created an unexpected tourism phenomenon.
More than 600,000 people had visited the area by Monday, according to authorities. During the four-day Chuseok holiday alone, about 483,000 visitors came to the waterfront park — roughly 50 times its usual holiday daily average of around 2,000.
The crowds became so large that officials had to focus heavily on visitor management and safety around the waterfront.
What began as an unusual wildlife sighting effectively turned North Port into one of Busan’s most talked-about attractions.
A Shark With a Name
The shark was affectionately named Bukang-i, combining “Bukhang,” meaning North Port, with the Korean suffix “-i.”
The name helped turn an otherwise difficult wildlife incident into a widely followed local story.
But behind the attention is a more serious question: why did a large marine animal enter the artificial canal, and why did it remain there for so long?
Environmental groups and marine experts have called for greater consideration of marine ecosystems when waterfront spaces are designed and managed.
What Happens Next?
For now, the priority is getting Bukang-i safely back into open water.
Authorities will first attempt the vessel-and-water approach. If that does not work, the specially designed net will provide another option.
After days of becoming Busan’s unexpected star, Bukang-i now faces the most important moment of its strange stay at North Port.
The crowds came to watch the shark — but now everyone is waiting to see whether Busan can successfully send its unlikely celebrity home.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
