A 3.5-meter-long copper shark trapped in an artificial canal at Busan’s North Port Waterfront Park has drawn more than 600,000 visitors since September 18, 2026, forcing South Korean authorities to suspend rescue operations aimed at guiding the animal back to open sea, according to Suaragarut and The Guardian reports. The stranded marine creature, dubbed “Bukang-i” from the local name for Busan’s North Port, spent nearly two weeks in the narrow waterway, triggering a massive public spectacle during the Chuseok holiday while reigniting debates over urban coastal design and rising ocean temperatures.
Failed Water-Jet Rescue and Next Steps
Coast Guard and fire rescue teams launched their first removal effort on Tuesday morning, utilizing high-pressure water pumps on boats to spray jets behind the shark, attempting to push it toward the canal’s entrance using a technique modeled after a 2004 Massachusetts great white shark rescue, SBS reported. However, the animal slipped past the vessels, diving deep underwater before retreating into the waterway.
Officials suspended the operation by Tuesday afternoon following the failed attempt. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the shark remains in stable condition, though prolonged confinement in the shallow waterway restricts its movement and ability to feed. Authorities announced plans to fabricate a specialized net measuring 50 meters wide and 4 meters high to conduct a second rescue operation.
Tourism Boom and ‘Shafluencer’ Status
The city recorded 607,000 park visits between September 19 and September 28, with over 483,000 spectators arriving during the Chuseok holiday alone, according to The Korea Times. The influx delivered a financial boost to local convenience stores and surrounding businesses.
Riding the surge in public interest, municipal officials named the shark an honorary publicity ambassador with the title ‘Shafluencer’ after 91 percent of respondents supported the initiative in a city Instagram poll. Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo highlighted the animal’s unexpected appeal during a radio appearance on CBS radio, noting its potential to raise the profile of the North Port development zone.
Ecological Warnings and Warming Waters
Despite public enthusiasm, marine biologists and environmental groups warned that the entrapment highlights broader ecological disruptions driven by rising sea temperatures. Choi Youn, an honorary professor of marine biology at Kunsan National University, stated that ocean warming drives prey species northward, leading copper sharks into unfamiliar territories where narrow structures prevent them from navigating back out.
Data from the National Institute of Fisheries Science showed off-shore waters in Gijang, Busan, were 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer in 2024 than in 2000, contributing to four times as many large shark sightings along the eastern coast in early 2026 compared to the previous year. Environmental advocacy groups urged municipal leaders to reevaluate the ecological design of artificial waterfront infrastructure rather than treating the incident solely as a promotional opportunity.