Shark Becomes Local Celebrity After Wandering Into City Waterway
A shark that wandered into an artificial waterway in South Korea has accomplished something few other surprise visitors could: attract hundreds of thousands of fans and land an official job with the city.
The roughly 11.5-foot shark, nicknamed Bukangi, was first spotted Sept. 18 in a waterway at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan. Researchers with South Korea’s National Institute of Fisheries Science believe the animal is a bronze whaler shark, according to KBS World.
Bukangi has hung out in the waterway ever since. Researchers believe the shark may have entered while following prey and could be having difficulty finding its way back out because of the waterway’s curved structure, although the exact reason it entered has not been confirmed.
That extended visit has turned into a phenomenon. According to Busan Metropolitan City, about 600,000 people visited North Port between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28, including approximately 480,000 during the four-day Chuseok holiday, a Korean harvest festival when families traditionally gather, share food, and honor their ancestors.
Bukangi Becomes a Local Celebrity
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The crowds are only part of Bukangi’s newfound fame. Photos and videos spread rapidly online, and the shark’s nickname combines “Bukhang,” the Korean name for North Port, with an affectionate suffix commonly added to names, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
Busan eventually asked residents whether Bukangi should become an honorary public relations ambassador for the city. About 8,200 people responded to the poll on the city’s official Instagram account, and, unsurprisingly, 91% supported the idea. Bukangi-related content had already surpassed 1.05 million views and 10,000 likes, according to Busan Metropolitan City.
Heeding the will of the people, the city made it official. Bukangi was appointed an honorary ambassador, with Busan’s existing mascot, Boogi, tapped to accept the certificate on the shark’s behalf.
The phenomenon has spread beyond sightseeing. SBS News reported that Bukangi inspired memes and even a free web game in which players help the shark find its way home while avoiding obstacles and eating fish. A citizen-created Bukangi sighting tracker has also allowed visitors to report where along the waterway they have recently seen the shark.
Efforts to Return Bukangi to The Sea
Authorities attempted to encourage Bukangi toward open water on Sept. 29 using boats and water pumps. The shark repeatedly avoided the effort, and the operation ended without getting it out of the waterway.
A second attempt is being prepared using a specially designed net. Rather than capturing Bukangi outright, the plan is to gradually restrict the area available to the shark and guide it toward the sea, Reuters reported.
Busan has embraced its unexpected visitor in the meantime. The city even produced its own extended video of Bukangi, complete with music inspired by the shark and the waters of Busan.
