"I Don't Want to Go Home": Shark 'Bukang-i' Returns After Crossing Net

Authorities installed a net near the waterway exit to return "Bukang-i," a shark that has been lingering in the Busan Bukhang Waterfront Park for over ten days, back to the open sea, but the shark crossed the net and returned inside the waterway just a day later.

Today (October 3), Bukang-i returned to the inner part of the waterway just a day after crossing the large net set up during the previous day's rescue operation.

Related authorities, including the Busan Coast Guard, deployed a large net measuring 50 meters in length and 6.8 meters in height near the 4th pedestrian bridge of the waterfront park yesterday to guide Bukang-i back to the sea.

They dragged the net toward the 6th pedestrian bridge, which is closer to the sea, to encourage Bukang-i to move out of the waterway.

When the net got caught on the bottom of the waterway and Bukang-i showed reluctance to move further out, authorities secured the net at a point about 100 meters inside from the waterway exit and suspended the rescue operation.

The installed net was intended to prevent Bukang-i from returning deeper into the waterway.

However, while prowling around the net and looking for a gap, Bukang-i eventually crossed the net and returned inside the waterway around 12:00 PM.

Bukang-i is currently spotted in the waterway between the 4th and 5th pedestrian bridges, where it frequently appeared before.

As Bukang-i has not left the waterway even after the second rescue operation, large crowds of citizens are flocking to the waterfront park.

With Bukang-i returning inside the waterway, the concerns of the rescue authorities are expected to deepen.

Related authorities, including the Busan Metropolitan Government, had originally planned to monitor whether Bukang-i would leave for the sea on its own during the National Foundation Day long weekend.

Related organizations, such as the Busan Corporation, are stepping up patrols in preparation for large crowds gathering during the holiday period.

The Bukhang Waterfront Park has emerged nationwide as a popular destination as crowds gather to see the 3.5-meter-long large shark that suddenly appeared in the park's waterway.

Since Bukang-i was first discovered, the cumulative number of visitors to the park has surpassed 700,000.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.