Bukani, the shark that turned Busan North Port into a tourist destination known nationwide, has left its artificial waterway after 33 days.
Authorities including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Busan city government made a third attempt to guide Bukani back to the sea on October 21. The shark was spotted in the waters off Pier 1 of Busan Port at around 6 p.m., bringing its stay in the waterway of more than a month to an end for now.
Since first appearing on September 18, the shark has been named an honorary ambassador for Busan and drawn more than 1.61 million visitors—a far greater impact than anyone might have expected from a single shark.
A 3-meter shark appears downtown and becomes a Busan attraction
When news spread on September 18 that a shark about 3 meters long had appeared in the artificial waterway at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan’s Dong District, people from Busan and across the country began coming to see it.
Initially unidentified, the shark was confirmed as a female dusky shark on October 6 after a detailed video analysis by the National Institute of Fisheries Science. The species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Residents gave the shark the affectionate name Bukani, reflecting its discovery at Busan North Port. The Busan city government responded to public interest by naming Bukani an honorary ambassador on September 29.
Cumulative visitor numbers top 1.61 million in 33 days
Bukani’s draw was also evident in visitor numbers.
Visitor numbers at North Port Waterfront Park, tracked by the Busan Facilities Corporation from September 19, rose sharply during the Chuseok holiday, reaching 101,000 on September 24, 136,000 on September 25 and 140,000 on September 26.
Visitors continued to come after the holiday. On October 17 and 18, the park drew 59,000 and 57,000 people, respectively, bringing the cumulative total to 1,612,800 visitors as of October 18.
A wild shark staying in an otherwise ordinary waterfront park became a social media sensation, creating a new tourist attraction for Busan.
Restaurant sales rise 29.3%, convenience store sales 35%
The crowds coming to see Bukani also brought increased spending to nearby businesses.
The Busan city government analyzed card spending within 1 kilometer of the waterfront park over separate 10-day periods before and after Bukani appeared. Restaurant sales rose 29.3% and convenience store sales 35.0%, while card spending by visitors from other areas increased 22.4% in value and 32.5% in number of transactions.
Individual convenience stores saw the same trend. CU analyzed sales at five stores near the waterfront park from September 19 to 27 and found an average increase of 76.7% compared with the preceding period of the same length.
Products associated with Bukani also gained popularity. Over the same period, CU stores in Busan’s Dong District reported sales increases of 54.7% for Jaws Bars, 29.0% for Whale Bap snacks and 45.6% for Baby Shark-related products. Across CU stores nationwide, sales of those products rose 26.5%, 18.9% and 23.5%, respectively.
Of course, these figures show changes in spending during the periods surveyed, and not every increase can be attributed to Bukani alone. Still, the simultaneous rise in tourism and local spending is significant.
Two failed attempts, then a third effort to guide Bukani out
As Bukani’s popularity grew, so did the concerns of the authorities.
Concerns about Bukani’s health grew because of the artificial waterway’s confined environment and falling water temperatures in autumn. Authorities tried to guide the shark out using a water pump on September 29 and nets on October 2, but neither attempt succeeded.
Authorities then waited for Bukani to return to the sea on its own. But as air and water temperatures continued to fall, they considered the possibility of a growing risk of death and launched a third attempt on October 21.
This operation involved a pontoon—a floating platform for work on the water—large nets and divers. Authorities guided Bukani from the area around pedestrian bridges 4 and 5, where it had previously spent most of its time, toward Marina Bridge.
The operation began around 10 a.m. and lasted about eight hours. At around 6 p.m., Bukani was spotted beyond the waterway in the waters off Pier 1 of Busan Port, marking the third attempt a success for now.
Out of the waterway, but the journey is not over
Bukani has been confirmed to have left the waterway, but the waters off Pier 1 where it was last seen are distinct from the fully open sea farther away.
Authorities plan to install several layers of barriers to prevent Bukani from returning to the waterway and monitor whether it moves into deeper waters farther out, where changes in water temperature have relatively less effect.
The Busan city government is also considering creating a commemorative space at the waterfront park to remember the public interest Bukani drew during its stay.
For more than a month, Bukani gave people a reason to visit North Port, drawing countless visitors and changing the local business district. What matters most now is that the wild shark can live safely in its natural habitat.
Bukani, thanks for the visit. May you stay healthy in the wider sea.
