Large Shark Appears in Busan North Port, Swimming Close to Walking Trail

[Anchor]

A massive shark, measuring nearly 4 meters in length, has appeared off the coast of Busan. It swam right up to a public park walking trail frequented by citizens, prompting emergency safety measures by the Coast Guard.

Reporter Kim Min-sung from KNN.

[Reporter]

A sharp fin and a streamlined body.

It is a huge shark gliding through the water.

The 3- to 4-meter-long shark appeared in front of the Busan North Port Waterfront Park, a popular spot where many citizens enjoy walking.

It shocked residents after being spotted swimming around the area since the previous night.

[Na Seok-rok / Choryang-dong, Busan: I saw an emergency safety alert saying that a shark had appeared in the channel of the North Port Waterfront Park... The shark was thrashing around heavily near the rocks at the corner.]

The shark discovered this time is estimated to be a type of requiem shark, which is known to be aggressive and carries a high risk of attacking humans.

It appears that the shark, which approached the coast, entered the waterfront park channel and became trapped after failing to find a way out.

The Coast Guard deployed a maritime special rescue team, coastal rescue boats, and patrol vessels to the scene, while working to drive the shark away using a shark repellent device.

While sharks have occasionally been spotted in the waters off Busan, this is the first time a shark has appeared inside the Busan Port, at the North Port Waterfront Park.

Previously, they were mostly spotted in the deep waters of the East Sea, but they are gradually approaching the coastline.

[Ji Hwan-sung / Marine and Fishery Researcher, National Institute of Fisheries Science: Reports of shark sightings are increasing significantly, centered around the east coast of our country. We are receiving many reports near beaches extending all the way to the northern part of the East Sea.]

Experts explain that rising water temperatures have increased warm-current prey such as mackerel and bluefin tuna, leading to more frequent appearances.

Currently, the Coast Guard has temporarily halted its repellent operations and is monitoring the situation, following a recommendation from the National Institute of Fisheries Science to let the shark return to the open sea naturally.

(Video by Hwang Tae-chul / KNN, Footage provided by viewers Kim Bin and Jin Yun-young)

Kim Min-sung, KNN
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.