On Sept. 29, five vessels entered Busan’s North Port canal to steer Bukangi, a 3.5-meter shark, back to sea. The effort drew a crowd, and the shark has attracted about 600,000 visitors since it first appeared on Sept. 18. Its fate rests with officials planning another attempt.
The Crowd Watches; Officials Direct
Authorities sprayed water from tanks as they tried to herd Bukangi toward open water. The shark repeatedly swam past the boats or dived to avoid them. Hours later, crews called off the effort. Bukangi remained in the canal.
The operation aired on YouTube. Thousands watched at North Port, where the shark has become a tourism draw as well as an animal officials are trying to move. Spectators came to watch; they didn’t organize a rescue. Authorities supplied the boats and water tanks, and they’ll decide what to try next.
About 600,000 visitors flocked to the port after counting began Sept. 19. Nearly half a million came during the previous week’s Chuseok holiday break, which is Korean Thanksgiving. The numbers have turned a stranded animal into a public attraction, but the question of how to get it out remains with officials.
Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo called Bukangi “a new part of Busan’s story,” saying, “Bukangi has naturally become a new part of Busan’s story with the interest and love of the city’s people.” His statement frames the shark through the city’s story and the public’s attention. Bukangi can’t choose whether it becomes a mascot.
A State-Run Net, Another Attempt
Kim Won-ho, a Busan City official, said another attempt could take place as early as Friday. The state-run National Institute of Fisheries Science is making a specially designed net at least 50 meters long. Officials plan to stretch it across the waterway by boat and use it to channel Bukangi toward the exit.
Under tentative plans, another boat would spray water from behind to drive the shark toward the opening. Vessels and equipment would again surround an animal that has so far avoided being herded by boats. Kim said, “We’re adapting our response to the situation on site.” Officials are still shaping that response; the source doesn’t describe any community-led alternative.
Safety and the Limits of the Spectacle
Officials said they detected no clear signs that Bukangi’s health had deteriorated. Still, they considered its release important for its safety and long-term health. The aim isn’t simply to keep the crowds coming: authorities say getting the shark out matters to its wellbeing, even after the first attempt failed.
The city has a mascot, a large audience, and another operation under consideration. But the central fact remains plain: Bukangi is still in the canal, and the authorities trying to guide it out will make the next move. Cameras can follow the effort. They can’t change who controls it.