▲ Citizens take pictures of a shark that appeared in the artificial waterway of the North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on the 20th.
As the shark that entered the artificial waterway at the North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, continues to stay there through the Chuseok holidays, the crowd flocking to catch a glimpse of the shark on the first day of the holidays exceeded 100,000.
According to the Busan Facility Corporation, the cumulative number of visitors to the waterfront park on September 24, the first day of the holidays, was tallied at approximately 93,000 as of 6:00 PM.
To prevent safety accidents, the Busan Metropolitan Government restricts access around the waterfront park waterway every day from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM the following day.
Including all visitors who came even after 6:00 PM, the total is estimated to have reached approximately 102,000.
Considering that the number of visitors to the waterfront park on a regular holiday is around 2,000, this means that about 50 times that number of people swarmed the area.
As the waterfront park shark, which was discovered at the North Port and even earned the nickname "Bukangi," emerged as a nationwide attraction, citizens flocked to see it during the holidays.
It is reported that returning family visitors who arrived at Busan Station also visited the waterfront park.
Busan Station and the waterfront park are about 500 meters apart, making it a walkable distance.
In the afternoon, as crowds packed the waterfront park, the Busan Metropolitan Government sent out a safety emergency text message stating, "Severe congestion is occurring around the waterfront park area," and urging visitors to "refrain from using vehicles and use public transportation as much as possible."
Visitors are expected to flock again today (September 25), which is the second day of the holidays and the Chuseok holiday itself.
Bukangi, which was discovered in the waterfront park waterway on September 18, has been staying here for the 8th day.
As visitors swarm to get a close look at the large shark, measuring 3.5 meters in size, nearby convenience stores and cafes are enjoying an unexpected boom.
Busan City and other relevant authorities plan to wait for Bukangi to leave the waterway on its own during the holidays, and prepare rescue measures if it remains after the holidays.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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