Since its first sighting on September 18, the shark known as 'Bukan' has attracted over 1 million visitors to the artificial waterway at Busan North Port's waterfront park.
According to the city of Busan, crowds began gathering at the park early on October 5, with a total of 1,015,800 visitors recorded by 6 p.m. that day.
On the first day of the National Foundation Day holiday, October 3, 72,000 people visited the park to see Bukan, followed by 89,000 on October 4, and another 89,000 on the final day of the holiday, October 5.
Before Bukan's arrival, the park averaged only 2,000 visitors per day. However, on the first day of the Chuseok holiday, September 24, attendance exceeded 100,000, peaking at 140,000 on September 26.
On the morning of October 5, the walking paths and bridges near the waterway were crowded with visitors, forming multiple lines to catch a glimpse of Bukan.
Despite two attempts by rescue authorities to guide Bukan back to the open sea, the shark has remained in the waterway. Authorities have decided to wait for Bukan to exit the waterway on its own without further rescue operations.
The net installed after the second rescue attempt was removed on October 3 at 4:20 p.m. to ensure Bukan has a clear path to the ocean.
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute is monitoring Bukan's health and movement, noting that the shark has not been observed feeding.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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