Busan shark attracts 100,000 visitors to North Port Waterfront Park

A large shark, estimated to be 3 to 4 meters long and nicknamed ‘Bukangi’, has drawn massive crowds to the North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, South Korea. First spotted on September 18 in an artificial waterway, the animal—provisionally identified by the National Institute of Fisheries Science as a dusky shark—has remained in the channel for over a week.

During the Chuseok holiday, visitor numbers surged to over 100,000 people on the first day, a fifty-fold increase compared to the usual 2,000 holiday visitors. This influx has provided a boost to local businesses like cafes and convenience stores but has also raised safety concerns. Authorities have implemented nightly access restrictions and issued alerts regarding traffic congestion, urging the use of public transportation.

While some citizens have expressed concern for the shark's welfare, others have engaged in irresponsible behavior, such as throwing food into the water or attempting to retrieve dropped items from the channel. Environmental groups and political figures have debated the event, with some viewing the shark's presence as a sign of rising sea temperatures due to climate change, while others focus on the economic and tourism benefits.