BUSAN — The first attempt to guide "Bukangi," a shark that has spent 12 days in a scenic channel at Busan's North Port, back out to sea ended without success. Rather than catching the shark directly, agencies tried to steer it toward open water using boats and water pumps, and when that failed to work, they decided to switch to nets for a second attempt.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government and other agencies, the operation ran for about an hour and 40 minutes from 11 a.m. on the 29th, mobilizing five vessels including rescue boats from the Busan Coast Guard and the Busan Metropolitan Fire Service as well as motorboats. Preparations began at 10 a.m. Work resumed in the afternoon, but the shark had not returned to open waters by the end of the day.
Rescue authorities sprayed water from pumps mounted on the vessels near the fourth pedestrian bridge inside the channel, seeking to move Bukangi toward the fifth pedestrian bridge. The method relies on water currents while keeping a set distance so as not to corner the shark. Instead of capturing it or physically provoking it, the operation focused on minimizing stress by prompting the shark to move on its own.
With the first attempt falling short, the next operation will use a custom-made net. The plan is to block off escape routes in stages so the shark cannot swim back into the channel, leaving open only the passage toward the sea so that it moves out naturally. The timing is expected to be the 2nd of next month, when the net is scheduled to be completed.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science is leading the effort, with the Busan Metropolitan Government, Busan Port Authority, Busan Infrastructure Corporation, the coast guard, fire service, police and Dong-gu District also taking part to continuously monitor the shark's health. The rescue method and pace will be adjusted depending on conditions at the site.
Since appearing at North Port, Bukangi has drawn public attention and become a new talking point in Busan, with about 600,000 people visiting the site between the 19th of this month and 6 p.m. on the 28th. The Busan Metropolitan Government named Bukangi an honorary publicity ambassador for the city, reflecting a survey of some 8,200 residents in which 91% were in favor.
