Busan park visits pass 1.2 million as shark remains in artificial waterway
In short
Busan's North Port waterfront park recorded 1,202,800 visits from September 19 to October 9 as crowds came to see the shark nicknamed Bukangi (부캉이). The shark had remained in the artificial waterway for 22 days by October 9 despite two unsuccessful attempts to return it to the sea.
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Cumulative visits to Busan's North Port waterfront park passed 1.2 million as holiday crowds continued to come to see the shark nicknamed Bukangi (부캉이). According to the city's facilities authority, 59,000 visits were recorded between 05:00 and 18:00 on October 9, bringing the total since September 19 to 1,202,800. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that the preceding day's total was 1,143,800, after 43,000 visits on October 8. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
The shark was first discovered in the park's artificial waterway on September 18 and had stayed for 22 days by October 9. Authorities made two attempts to return it to the sea without success. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that it crossed a barrier net and returned to the waterway during earlier attempts to guide it offshore. Yonhap described a crowded park on the first day of the Hangul Day holiday, with an outdoor car park full early in the morning and people gathered around the waterway to watch the shark swim. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
Yonhap reported that some visitors had returned several times and that sighting photographs were being posted to a citizen-reporting website shortly after 07:00 on October 9. It also described some people repeatedly reflecting sunlight into the waterway with objects thought to be mirrors. Relevant agencies had identified what appeared to be an abrasion on the shark's snout. Yonhap said it was suspected to have scraped against the waterway bottom after moving vigorously when visitors shone strong lights at it at night. [ 2 ]
Korea Economic Daily also reported the snout injury and visitors reflecting sunlight into the water. Yonhap's October 10 summary said sunny weather brought crowds to North Port and Busan Citizens Park on the second day of the holiday. [ 3 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The shark continued to draw holiday crowds, with 59,000 park visits recorded between 05:00 and 18:00 on October 9. Yonhap reported a suspected abrasion on its snout and concerns about visitors directing strong light into the waterway.
Key facts
- Cumulative park visits reached 1,202,800 between September 19 and October 9, according to Busan's facilities authority. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- There were 59,000 visits between 05:00 and 18:00 on October 9. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The shark was first found on September 18 and remained for 22 days as of October 9; two attempts to return it to sea failed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The precise cause of the shark's snout injury. Yonhap described the abrasion and the proposed link to vigorous movement under strong light as suspected; Korea Economic Daily presented that explanation more definitively.