A 3.5m shark trapped in a narrow canal in South Korea has become an unlikely tourist attraction, drawing more than 600,000 visitors to a waterfront park in Busan.
Image used for illutrative purposes/By: Alex Barlow/Getty Images
The shark, nicknamed Bukang-i after Busan’s North Port, was first spotted in the canal on 18 September. Experts believe a bronze whaler shark followed prey from the sea into the waterway but couldn’t find its way back out.
Rescue efforts underway
South Korean coastguard officials initially tried to guide the shark out of the canal shortly after discovering it. The operation was stopped after scientists warned that forcing the animal could injure it or cause it to become stressed and aggressive.
Rescue efforts resumed on 29 September, with coastguard boats using jets of water to encourage the shark towards the canal entrance. The method was reportedly inspired by the rescue of a great white shark trapped in shallow water off Massachusetts in 2004.
The first renewed attempt was unsuccessful, with the shark swimming past the boats and returning further into the canal.
According to the fisheries institute, the shark remains stable, although its restricted ability to move and feed could weaken it if it remains trapped for much longer.
From stranded shark to tourist attraction
What began as a wildlife rescue has turned into an unexpected tourism phenomenon.
The North Port Waterfront Park normally attracts about 2,000 people a day on holidays, but the city recorded approximately 607,000 visits between 19 and 28 September following the shark’s arrival.
Visitors have gathered along the waterfront hoping to catch a glimpse of Bukang-i as it surfaces in the canal.
The shark has even received an honorary publicity title from Busan. Following a city Instagram poll, in which 91% of respondents supported the idea, officials dubbed it a “Shafluencer” and plan to have the city’s mascot accept the honorary certificate on its behalf.
Sharks are becoming a talking point in South Korea
Sharks are not unusual in South Korean waters, although encounters close to urban areas can attract considerable attention.
South Korea’s National Institute of Fisheries Science recorded 46 large sharks off the country’s east coast during the first half of 2026, nearly four times the number recorded during the same period the previous year. Researchers have linked the increase to warmer seas and greater availability of prey.
The unusual Busan visitor has meanwhile captured the public’s imagination, with residents and tourists turning up to watch the animal and follow the rescue effort.
For now, Bukang-i remains in the canal while officials work to find a safe way to return it to the sea.
Source: Read the original report in The Guardian
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