00:00 Intro
00:30 A shark appeared out of nowhere, what is its identity?
01:39 Rising as Busan's top star
02:44 But Bukang-i, can't you live here?
04:25 So what should we do?
Where I am standing right now is one of the hottest places in Busan these days—the Bukang Waterfront Park. On September 18, a shark about 3.5 meters long, nicknamed "Bukang-i," appeared in the waterway here. Ever since Bukang-i showed up, I have been visiting this place very frequently both for reporting and on a personal level. But every time I come, I am amazed. It makes me wonder if there has ever been this many people gathered along the Bukang area. Just how much has this single shark changed Busan? Today, we will talk about the story of Busan's top star, "Bukang-i."
1. A Shark Appeared Out of Nowhere, What Is Its Identity?
To date, experts presume that Bukang-i is either a spottail shark or a dusky shark. However, these two species look so similar that it is difficult to tell them apart simply by watching them swim underwater.
[Kim Jin-goo / Professor of Aquatic Bioscience, Pukyong National University: It's either a spottail shark or a dusky shark. The key to distinguishing between these two species is the dorsal fins, as you can see two here. There is a first dorsal fin and a second dorsal fin, and if there is a sharp ridged surface between them, it becomes a dusky shark, and if there is no sharp ridged surface, it becomes a spottail shark.]
In other words, whether Bukang-i is a spottail shark or a dusky shark needs to be verified more clearly by looking at its belly or back. The issue is why such a large shark ended up entering this particular waterfront park waterway in the first place, and experts believe it may have followed prey inside and failed to find its way out of the narrow waterway. In fact, it is analyzed that this waterway is rich in prey such as mullet and jack mackerel. So from Bukang-i's perspective, it entered thinking, "There is a lot to eat here?", only to realize, "Wait, where is the exit?"
2. Rising as Busan's Top Star
However, this shark has become an absolute sensation. As news of the shark's appearance spread across social media, citizens began to flock in, and it was even given the cute name "Bukang-i." When you come to the scene, people are gathered in front of the fences to see Bukang-i, just like waiting for a celebrity. You can also see people running along the path where Bukang-i passed by. Because of a single shark, the Bukang area has practically turned into a "representative regional tourist attraction." During the four-day Chuseok holiday alone, 483,000 people visited Bukang, and the cumulative number of visitors from September 18, when Bukang-i appeared, to September 28 exceeded 600,000. Considering that the usual weekend visitor count here hovers around 2,000, it is literally a massive change. Commercial districts nearby, such as cafes and convenience stores, have also enjoyed a booming special demand. The Busan Metropolitan City government even decided to appoint Bukang-i as an honorary ambassador. Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo also expressed his affection regarding Bukang-i's popularity, saying he finds it "adorably cute" and joking that he would even want to throw a stingray to it.
3. But Bukang-i, Can't You Live Here?
As someone whose hometown is Busan, I sometimes think about how it would be if Bukang-i continued to stay here and became Busan's mascot. Citizens also feel a sense of regret.
[Kim Do-yoon, Kim Yong-nam, Kim Ri-wan / Chuncheon, Gangwon Province: Bukang-i is famous and rare, and it made good memories, but it's disappointing that it's leaving.]
Despite these regrets, a release operation to send Bukang-i back to the sea has already been carried out once. Several vessels entered the waterway and used water pumps to flow water, guiding Bukang-i toward the open sea. As a result, the first operation ended in failure. And for the second operation scheduled for tomorrow, nets will be deployed. The method involves using a net custom-made for the waterway, approximately 50 meters wide and 4 meters high, to guide Bukang-i toward the open sea. However, voices of concern have also been raised regarding these release operations. The argument is that Bukang-i could be injured due to the forceful driving approach.
[Yeon Sung-chan / Director of Seoul National University Animal Hospital: Even if it's not direct capture, various stresses related to capture can cause animals to engage in frantic behavior and ultimately lead to muscle damage...]
However, experts explain that keeping it lingering here continuously is not a good method either. While it might be fine for the immediate present, it is not suitable as a place to live for a lifetime.
[Choi Yoon / Professor of Marine Biology, Kunsan National University: Looking at how it swims, it looks very unnatural, and because the depth is shallow and it is narrow, it is in a state where it cannot move freely.]
Given that sharks are animals that originally roam the wide ocean, spending a long time in a narrow artificial waterway surrounded by concrete is difficult to consider a good environment.
4. So What Should We Do?
Ultimately, the important thing would be how to send Bukang-i back to the sea while also protecting its safety. Experts explain that it is important to create a "path" so that Bukang-i can return to the sea on its own. A "soft release" method has been proposed, which induces movement by utilizing the scent of prey naturally encountered in the coastal waters of Busan, such as sardines or mackerel.
[Yeon Sung-chan / Director of Seoul National University Animal Hospital: We see very many cases where wild animals naturally go in and out and eventually disappear when food is placed inside a cage with a large fence and also a little outside. This is called a soft release. If Bukang-i also naturally escapes in that way, or if it continues to stay in the waterway, we need some leisure to look at that itself with a bit more time.]
Ultimately, rather than chasing Bukang-i away, safely creating a path so it can head to the sea on its own appears to be the most crucial solution.
(Reported by Kim su-yun | Produced by Shin Hee-suk | Video by Jung Kyung-mun | Video Editing by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.