An 11.5-foot shark has become a city ambassador in South Korea after getting stuck in a canal near Busan’s North Port. The bronze whaler, nicknamed Bukangi, has drawn around 600,000 visitors since it was first spotted on September 18, and now local officials want it to leave. City authorities named Bukangi an honorary public relations ambassador on September 29, following a poll on the city’s official Instagram account. Around 8,000 participants took part, and 91% of them backed the decision. The nickname comes from “Buk Hang,” the Korean name for North Port.
First Spotting and the Name
Bukangi’s story began when it was first spotted in the canal on September 18. Crowds quickly gathered at the waterfront park to catch a glimpse of the animal. The shark takes its nickname from “Buk Hang,” the Korean name for North Port. That same day marked the start of the city’s growing interest in the stranded animal, and the crowds that would eventually draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The Four-Day Holiday Crowd
During the four-day Chuseok holiday, around 480,000 people visited the site, accounting for most of the approximately 600,000 visitors the city says have come to see Bukangi over the past two weeks. The holiday period proved particularly popular, with families gathering for the traditional harvest festival bringing large numbers of visitors to the waterfront.
The Coast Guard’s Efforts So Far
Coast guard crews have tried repeatedly to guide the shark back to the open ocean. Their main method has been to use vessels to spray water behind the shark, hoping to encourage it to swim toward the waterway’s exit. So far, nothing has worked. The attempts have included repeated trips out to the shark’s position, and each time the animal has turned back.
“We drove Bukangi to the sixth pedestrian bridge at the waterway’s exit, but it returned,” said a Busan Metropolitan Government official via The Chosun Daily. “With low tide ending and the pump method reaching its limits, we stopped the operation.”
The Decision to Name an Ambassador
The decision to name Bukangi an honorary public relations ambassador came after a public vote on the city’s official Instagram account. The platform hosted a poll where around 8,000 participants took part, and 91% of them backed the decision. The result was announced on September 29. The vote reflected the city’s growing affection for the stranded animal, with supporters arguing that the shark had become a symbol of the area.
Why the Coast Guard Keeps Trying
The coast guard’s frustration is palpable. Officials have tried everything they can think of to move Bukangi along, and the shark keeps turning back. The latest attempt involved guiding the animal to exit on its own rather than directly spraying water.
“Today, we focused on guiding Bukangi to exit on its own rather than directly spraying water. We plan to try a different method on October 2.”
The report states that large nets will be used to block the waterway, with the hope of guiding Bukangi toward the open waters and back to where the shark belongs. The official’s statement suggests the previous methods have reached their practical limits, and the team is looking for a new approach.
What the City Is Preparing Now
The coast guard’s next attempt is scheduled for October 2. The plan involves using large nets to block the waterway, with the hope of guiding Bukangi toward the open waters and back to where the shark belongs. The nets are expected to create a barrier that directs the shark away from the canal and toward the open sea.
Whether this new method succeeds remains to be seen. If it fails, the city will face a difficult decision about what to do with the shark. The options available to the city at that point are unclear, and the city has not yet said what it might do if the nets fail to work.
The Numbers Behind the Story
The figures tell the full story of Bukangi’s rise to fame:
- First spotted: September 18
- Honorary ambassador named: September 29
- Instagram poll participants: Around 8,000
- Poll support: 91%
- Holiday visitors: Around 480,000 during the four-day Chuseok holiday
- Total visitors: Approximately 600,000 over the past two weeks
The Shark’s Current Status
For now, the shark remains in the canal, a curious spectacle for visitors who continue to gather at the waterfront park to catch a glimpse of the animal. The crowds that once gathered at the waterfront park to watch the shark have largely dispersed, though some visitors still come to see Bukangi.
Source material: “Shark trapped in South Korean canal draws 600,000 visitors and becomes city ambassador,” Dexerto.
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