Shark 'Bukang-i' Captivates 600,000 Visitors... Attempt to Return It to the Sea Today

[Anchor]

Operations to return "Bukang-i," a shark that appeared at Busan Bukhang Waterfront Park, back to the sea will begin today (September 29). The number of visitors who have visited the park to see Bukang-i has exceeded 600,000.

Reporter Kim su-yun.

[Reporter]

Citizens cheer and follow along as the shark, Bukang-i, swims leisurely.

Despite it being a weekday following the Chuseok holiday, a large crowd gathered upon hearing the news that Bukang-i would soon leave.

According to the Busan Facilities Corporation, the number of visitors who came to the waterfront park to see Bukang-i over the four-day Chuseok holiday was counted at 483,000.

Since the 18th, when Bukang-i first appeared, the cumulative number of visitors has surpassed 600,000.

Related agencies, including the Busan Metropolitan Government, held a meeting and decided to return Bukang-i to the sea.

[Kim Chang-deok / Director of Green City Bureau, Busan Metropolitan Government: Above all, citizens' safety is a current concern, and from the perspective of wildlife protection, it seems to be the time to naturally guide Bukang-i to the open sea.]

Starting at 10 a.m. today, boats and water pumps will be mobilized to guide Bukang-i's movement from the inner side of the waterway toward the open sea.

[Kim Hyun-woo / Researcher, National Institute of Fisheries Science: We are not spraying it directly at the shark, but using the water pump to spray the area behind the shark so that the resulting bubbles and noise drive the shark toward the entrance of the waterway....]

If this method proves ineffective, the plan is to use a specially manufactured net to guide its return.

Citizens expressed a tinge of regret but hope that Bukang-i will return safely.

[Kim Do-yoon, Kim Yong-nam, Kim Ri-wan / Chuncheon, Gangwon Province: Bukang-i is famous and rare, and it made for good memories, but it is a bit disappointing to see it go.]

As a large crowd is expected to gather during the operation to guide Bukang-i to the open sea, the Busan Metropolitan Government plans to enforce strict on-site safety management.

(Photo: Yonhap News) (Reported by Jung Kyung-mun | Video by Park Choon-bae | Graphics by Lee Jong-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.