More Than 560,000 People Visit Busan Park to See Shark Trapped in Canal

Busan, South Korea — September 28, 2026

More than 560,000 people have visited a waterfront park in Busan to see a 3.5-meter shark that has remained trapped in a narrow canal for more than a week, turning an unexpected marine sighting into a major local attraction.

Shark Spotted in Busan Canal

The shark was first spotted on September 18 in a narrow waterway at Busan’s North Port.

Residents began calling the shark “Bukang-i,” a nickname combining the Korean name for North Port with a common Korean naming suffix.

Experts have identified the animal as a tawny nurse shark. A marine biology expert said the shark may have entered the canal while following prey and then struggled to find its way back to open water.

Hundreds of Thousands Come to See It

The unusual visitor quickly attracted large crowds to the waterfront park.

According to the Busan Infrastructure Corporation, 568,800 people had visited the park between September 19 and September 27.

During the four-day Chuseok holiday alone, approximately 483,000 visitors came to the park to watch the shark swimming in the canal.

The number was dramatically higher than the park’s usual holiday traffic, which averages around 2,000 visitors a day.

Authorities Consider How to Return the Shark to the Sea

Maritime police and local authorities initially attempted to encourage the shark to leave the waterway. The efforts were later suspended after the animal remained in the canal.

As the shark continued to stay in the area, Busan officials planned a meeting on September 28 with fisheries experts, port authorities and the Coast Guard to discuss possible ways to safely return it to open water.

Experts have suggested continuing to monitor the shark and intervening if it begins showing signs of weakness or becomes unable to survive in the canal.

Officials Also Manage Large Crowds

The unexpected attraction has created another challenge for authorities: managing the large number of people gathering around the waterfront.

During the Chuseok holiday, additional safety personnel were deployed around the park to control pedestrian movement and prevent accidents as crowds gathered to watch the shark.

Authorities have also urged visitors not to approach or feed the animal. Marine experts warned that attempts to feed or disturb the shark could agitate it and create additional risks.

Shark Becomes an Unexpected Attraction

For now, Bukang-i remains in the canal while authorities consider the safest way to handle the unusual situation.

What began as an unexpected shark sighting has brought hundreds of thousands of people to Busan’s North Port waterfront, while marine experts and local authorities continue to monitor the animal’s condition.

Sources

• Yonhap News Agency — Over 560,000 visitors flock to Busan to see canal-trapped shark Bukang-i — September 28, 2026.
• ChosunBiz — Bukangi draws 470,000 to Busan North Port during Chuseok — September 28, 2026.
• Seoul Economic Daily — Don’t Throw Raw Chicken at Busan Shark, Expert Warns — September 23, 2026.
• The Kyunghyang Shinmun — Daily crush of crowds raises fears of accidents… What to do about ‘Bukang-i’ — September 23, 2026.