Authorities are considering measures to guide a shark that has been lingering for days in a waterway at the Busan North Port Waterfront Park back into the open sea after the Chuseok holiday.

The Busan Metropolitan City government, Busan Port Authority, Busan Maritime Police Station, and National Institute of Fisheries Science held an emergency meeting yesterday as the shark showed signs of long-term stay in the waterway. They discussed various measures, including guiding it to the open sea and safety management plans inside the park amid a surge in visitors.

The relevant authorities decided to closely monitor the shark's movements through the Chuseok holiday period and re-examine response plans if it fails to leave on its own after the holiday ends.

Methods currently being discussed include narrowing the movement range using multiple boats and nets, and then slowly guiding the shark toward the exit.

However, because the waterway is relatively shallow at about 3 meters deep, and a strong and fast shark could become agitated and show aggressiveness, the authorities plan to cautiously decide whether to proceed with actual guidance operations and the detailed methods based on experts' opinions.

First spotted on September 18 and remaining in the same place, the shark has gained a friendly nickname, Bukang-i, and is drawing nationwide attention and becoming a major hot topic among citizens.

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo also appeared on a radio broadcast and said, "The North Port has become a hot place because of the appearance of the shark," adding, "It is so cute that I could die. I feel like buying and scattering some stingrays or squid for it."

However, voices of concern and criticism have also emerged over this craze.

The Green Party issued an official commentary stating that the media is "making a fuss" over the appearance of the shark, adding, "The appearance of subtropical sharks is a stern warning sent to us by the rising sea temperatures due to climate change."

The party pointed out that the phenomenon, driven by the northward migration of warm-current fish species, should not be consumed simply as a fascinating spectacle or entertainment.

Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Kim Min-ji | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News