[Anchor]
The true identity of "Bukang-i," which has drawn nationwide attention and attracted over 1 million visitors, has been revealed. Initially known as a bigeye sand tiger, Bukang-i has been confirmed to be a female blacktip shark, an endangered species.
Choi Han-sol from KNN reports.
[Reporter]
Just about 100 meters away from the open sea, "Bukang-i" managed to cross the net and re-enter the waterway of the Bukhang Waterfront Park.
While it was widely believed to be a bigeye sand tiger, close-up photography confirmed it to be a blacktip shark.
A pointed ridge—a characteristic feature of blacktip sharks—was identified between the two dorsal fins on its back.
It is classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and has been reported as an unrecorded species in South Korea.
[Kim Hyun-woo / Researcher, National Institute of Fisheries Science: Males have reproductive organs near their pelvic fins. We discussed this with shark experts. It has been confirmed as a female.]
Characterized by its distribution in coastal temperate waters, analysts predict it will head south to warmer seas in winter as water temperatures drop.
Becoming an even rarer sight, Bukang-i has drawn a crowd.
The number of visitors who have flocked to Bukang-i at the Bukhang Waterfront Park has already surpassed 1 million.
Bukhang Port is a symbol of port history where military supplies and South Korea's first export cargo ships passed through in the 1950s, and it is currently undergoing redevelopment.
Riding the wave of Bukang-i's popularity, the Busan city government and port authorities have announced ambitions to turn the Bukhang area into a new hub for marine tourism.
They plan to introduce a master architect committee while mapping out various blueprints, such as the construction of a new building for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The waterfront area is planned to be developed with a focus on enhanced experiential activities.
Thanks to Bukang-i, a "lucky charm," Bukang and its surrounding original downtown area are set to re-establish themselves as representative hot spots in Busan.
(Video reporting: Oh Won-seok / KNN, Video editing: Oh Hyun-hee / KNN)
Choi Han-sol, KNN
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