The shark nicknamed "Bukang-i," which has been staying in the artificial waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, for over 10 days, has failed to leave for the open sea despite a rescue operation mobilizing water pumps.

Authorities, including the Busan Coast Guard, deployed vessels and water pumps to the artificial waterway of the waterfront park today (September 29) to drive Bukang-i out to sea, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

The rescue operation was conducted by deploying five vessels—including a 4.6-ton patrol boat and a 3-ton rescue boat from the Coast Guard, and three fire rescue boats—to spray water using pumps and herd Bukang-i away.

Water streams were used to create foam and noise to induce Bukang-i to move out of the waterway.

Outside the waterway, two Coast Guard rescue boats and the Central Marine Special Rescue Team were stationed to prepare for any unexpected situations.


The Coast Guard and fire authorities located Bukang-i starting at 10 a.m. and sprayed water while moving slowly from the inside to the outside of the waterway.

However, Bukang-i showed little inclination to leave the waterway.

The shark evaded the water streams by hugging the edges of the waterway where vessel access was difficult or swimming swiftly behind the boats.

Consequently, the vessels repeatedly lost track of Bukang-i, moved back inside the waterway, and repeated the herding process.

Although the Coast Guard and fire authorities continued the rescue operation into the afternoon, Bukang-i did not exit the waterway.

The operation was eventually suspended at around 3:20 p.m.

The relevant authorities decided to activate "Plan B," which was prepared for a potential failure of the water pump rescue operation.

This method involves using nets to drive Bukang-i out of the waterway.

As fabricating the nets takes time, the net-based rescue operation is expected to be feasible around October 2.

Using nets will allow authorities to thoroughly block off the edges of the waterway where Bukang-i previously evaded the water pump streams.

The Coast Guard plans to deploy large nets while spraying water with pumps and moving toward the outside of the waterway to herd Bukang-i in the direction of the sea.


Citizens flocked to the waterfront park to see Bukang-i.

Lining the banks of the waterway, citizens cheered for Bukang-i to return safely to the sea.

Bukang-i was first spotted in the artificial waterway of the waterfront park on September 18.

As crowds gathered to catch a close-up glimpse of the large shark, the waterfront park has emerged as a nationwide attraction.

(Photo: Yonhap News)