Authorities installed a net near the waterway exit to return "Bukang-i," a shark that has stayed in the waterfront park at Busan Bukang for over 10 days, back to the sea, but the shark crossed the net and returned inside the waterway just a day later.

Today (October 3), Bukang-i crossed the large net installed during the previous day's rescue operation and headed back inside the waterway within a day.

Relevant authorities, including the Busan Coast Guard, set up a large net measuring 50 meters in length and 6.8 meters in height near the No. 4 Pedestrian Bridge at the waterfront park the previous day to guide Bukang-i back to the sea.

They attempted to drive Bukang-i out of the waterway by pulling the net toward the No. 6 Pedestrian Bridge, which is closer to the open sea.

However, as the net got caught on the bottom of the waterway and Bukang-i showed reluctance to move further out, authorities secured the net about 100 meters inward from the waterway exit and suspended the rescue operation.

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

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

Currently, Bukang-i has been spotted in the waterway between the No. 4 and No. 5 Pedestrian Bridges, where it frequently appeared before.

As Bukang-i refuses to leave the waterway even after the second rescue operation, a large crowd of citizens is gathering at the waterfront park.

With Bukang-i returning inside the waterway, the authorities are expected to face deeper concerns.

Relevant 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 during the holiday period.

As crowds flock to catch a glimpse of the 3.5-meter-long large shark that unexpectedly appeared in the park's waterway, the Bukang Waterfront Park has emerged as a nationwide attraction.

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

(Photo: Yonhap News)