A shark that entered the artificial waterway of Busan's North Port waterfront park has been lingering for five days, indicating a potential long-term stay. The city of Busan plans to enhance safety measures during the Chuseok holiday and is considering options to guide the shark to the open sea if it does not leave the waterway after the holiday.
According to Yonhap News on September 23, relevant agencies, including the Busan city government, Busan Port Authority, Busan Coast Guard, and the National Fisheries Research Institute, held a meeting the previous day to discuss measures regarding the shark. They decided to wait until the end of the Chuseok holiday (September 24-27) to see if the shark would exit the waterway on its own.
The shark, first spotted on September 18 in the waterway at the North Port waterfront park, measures approximately 3.5 meters in length and has been circling without escaping. Efforts by the Coast Guard to remove the shark were halted after it failed to leave, following recommendations from the National Fisheries Research Institute. The plan is to encourage the shark to return to the sea naturally while also strengthening safety measures in anticipation of increased visitors during the holiday.
The shark has been affectionately nicknamed 'Bukan-i,' after the North Port. The number of visitors to the waterfront park surged from an average of 2,000 per day to about 20,000 over the past weekend, with around 10,000 visitors recorded on Monday, September 21.
Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo expressed enthusiasm over the appearance of Bukan-i. He stated on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One' on September 23, "This is a promotional opportunity worth billions that we could never buy. Bukan-i has given us a chance that comes once in a hundred years."
He noted that the shark surfaces every 5 to 10 minutes, saying, "I've never seen such a beautiful creature in my life," and jokingly mentioned wanting to buy stingrays and squid to feed it.
Jeon emphasized the importance of citizen safety during a safety management meeting attended by the city government, Busan Facilities Corporation, police, fire department, and Coast Guard, stating, "We must not engage in any actions that could provoke the shark."
The presence of Bukan-i has unexpectedly boosted tourism in the North Port waterfront park area. Jeon explained that the waterfront park, developed by the Busan Port Authority at a cost of approximately 90 billion won, has gained nationwide attention due to the shark's appearance. The park is connected to Busan Station by a deck, making it a seven-minute walk. Nearby parking lots are full, and restaurants around Busan Station, as well as convenience stores and cafes near the waterfront park, are also benefiting from the influx of visitors.
Jeon mentioned that they are considering ways to create tourism content and aims to develop the North Port as the center of Busan's maritime capital. However, the city plans to review options to guide the shark to the open sea if it remains in the waterway after the holiday.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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