Key facts
- A 3-meter-long shark stranded in a Busan canal has drawn over a million visitors.
- Local retail sales have seen a significant boost due to the shark's presence.
- Busan has appointed the shark an honorary ambassador, naming it "Bukangi."
- Authorities are taking action against private commercial use of the "Bukangi" name.
- Experts believe the shark is a bronze whaler or dusky shark that entered the canal seeking prey.
A three-meter-long shark, nicknamed "Bukangi," has become an unlikely tourist attraction and internet sensation in Busan, South Korea, drawing over a million visitors to the coastal city. The shark became trapped in a narrow city canal more than a week ago after likely following prey from the sea, and has since been the subject of multiple, largely unsuccessful, rescue efforts.
Local media coverage has been extensive, highlighting failed attempts by the coastguard and scientists to encourage the shark back into the open ocean. Methods used have included spraying jets of water and using a large net, but the shark has so far evaded these efforts and swum further inland at times. Experts from the National Institute of Fisheries Science are continuing to monitor its health and movement, noting that while the shark appears stable, its restricted ability to feed and move could weaken it over time. Some suggest the shark may be attracted to the magnetic fields created by undersea cables in the waterway.
The influx of visitors has provided a significant boost to the local economy. Convenience stores near the waterfront park, which typically sees about 2,000 visitors on holidays, reported a 76.7% jump in sales in the week following the shark's appearance. The city of Busan has capitalized on the phenomenon by appointing "Bukangi" an honorary publicity ambassador, even considering the title "Shafluencer." However, this has also led to a trademark dispute, with Busan authorities warning against any private commercial use of the shark's name, emphasizing its status as a symbol created with the public.