Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Repeated shark sightings at Busan’s North Port have drawn crowds to Waterfront Park, while city authorities stepped up safety measures and monitored the animal’s return to open waters. A shark estimated at least 3 meters long was first spotted at 8:57 a.m. on Friday, with another sighting reported at 1:05 p.m. the next day. City officials believed it was a basking shark and said it could still be dangerous if provoked or approached too closely. Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo urged caution while saying the sightings could become more frequent as warm-water fish increase in the area due to climate change.

The Korea Coast Guard initially tried to guide the shark out of the narrow waterway before suspending the effort after advice from the National Institute of Fisheries Science.

Safety personnel were deployed at the site, and public announcements warned visitors not to approach the waterway or lean over safety barriers.

Busan Metropolitan City sent safety messages asking residents in the area to remain cautious.

Jeon Jae-soo said the shark may have come to North Port in search of food and warned that sightings in the area could become more frequent in the future.

Published Sep 20, 2026 1:59 pm KST

A shark swims near the North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, Friday. Yonhap

Repeated shark sightings at a waterfront park in Busan’s North Port have drawn crowds of curious visitors, prompting city authorities to step up safety measures while monitoring the sea creature’s return to open waters.

A shark estimated to be at least 3 meters long was first spotted at around 8:57 a.m. on Friday in a waterway at the port’s Waterfront Park, according to city officials. Another shark sighting was reported at around 1:05 p.m. the following day.

The creature was believed to be a basking shark, a species found in subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, including waters off the Korean Peninsula. Although the species is not known to be aggressive, city officials said it could still pose a danger if provoked or approached too closely.

Coast Guard officials conduct a safety operation near the North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, Friday, after a shark was spotted in a nearby waterway. Yonhap

The Korea Coast Guard initially tried to guide the shark out of the narrow waterway. But it suspended the effort after the National Institute of Fisheries Science advised that forcing the animal away could trigger defensive or aggressive behavior.

Instead of deterring visitors, the unusual sight quickly turned the park into a local attraction. Pictures and videos posted on social media have described the waterfront as “the hottest place in Busan right now.” Armed with phones and cameras, visitors — including those with young children — gathered along the waterway in hopes of catching a glimpse of a real shark in the wild.

Safety personnel were deployed at the site, while public announcements urged visitors not to approach the waterway or lean over safety barriers. Busan Metropolitan City also sent safety messages asking residents in the area to remain cautious.

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, while urging the public to follow the safety guidance, appeared to welcome the attention.

“Many people must have been surprised,” Jeon wrote in a social media post on Saturday. “It is believed that the shark came to North Port in search of food, as warm-water fish have become more common in the area due to climate change.”

He said shark sightings in the area could become more frequent in the future.

“We will continue to develop North Port into a beautiful sea where diverse species can coexist,” he said. “I hope people will visit and enjoy North Port more often, as it will become part of Busan's future as a maritime capital. We will take responsibility for safety.”

釜山北港附近多次出现鲨鱼踪迹，吸引了众多游客前往海滨公园。与此同时，市政府加强了安全措施，并密切关注鲨鱼重返开阔水域的情况。据估计，一条至少3米长的鲨鱼于周五上午8点57分首次被发现，第二天下午1点05分又有目击报告。市政府官员认为这是一条姥鲨，并表示如果受到挑衅或过于靠近，它仍然可能具有危险性。釜山市长全在洙呼吁民众保持警惕，并表示随着气候变化导致暖水鱼类在该地区增多，鲨鱼目击事件可能会更加频繁。

韩国海岸警卫队最初试图引导鲨鱼离开狭窄的水道，但在国立水产科学研究院的建议下暂停了这一行动。

现场部署了安全人员，并通过公共广播警告游客不要靠近水道或倚靠安全护栏。

釜山广域市发出安全提示，要求该地区居民保持警惕。

全在洙表示，这条鲨鱼可能来到北港是为了觅食，并警告说，未来该地区可能会更频繁地出现鲨鱼踪迹。

发布于2026年9月20日下午1:59（韩国标准时间）

周五，一条鲨鱼在釜山北港海滨公园附近游弋。（韩联社）

釜山北港海滨公园多次出现鲨鱼踪迹，吸引了大批好奇的游客前来参观，促使市政府加强安全措施，同时密切关注这种海洋生物重返公海的情况。

据市府官员称，周五上午8点57分左右，有人在港口滨水公园的一条水道中首次发现一条鲨鱼，估计长度至少为3米。第二天下午1点05分左右，又有人报告发现另一条鲨鱼。

人们认为这只生物是姥鲨，这种鲨鱼生活在太平洋、大西洋和印度洋的亚热带水域，包括朝鲜半岛附近海域。虽然姥鲨通常不具攻击性，但市政官员表示，如果受到挑衅或过于靠近，它仍然可能构成危险。

周五，釜山海岸警卫队官员在北港海滨公园附近水域展开安全行动，此前有人在附近水道发现鲨鱼。（韩联社）

韩国海岸警卫队最初试图将鲨鱼引离狭窄水道，但由于国立水产科学研究院建议强行驱赶鲨鱼可能会引发其防御或攻击行为，因此海岸警卫队暂停了这一行动。

这不寻常的景象非但没有吓退游客，反而迅速将公园变成了当地的热门景点。社交媒体上发布的照片​​和视频将这片水岸描述为“釜山目前最热门的地方”。游客们——其中不乏带着小孩的家庭——带着手机和相机，聚集在水道边，希望能一睹野生鲨鱼的真容。

现场已部署安全人员，并发布公告提醒游客不要靠近水道或倚靠安全护栏。釜山广域市也发布了安全提示，要求附近居民保持警惕。

釜山市长全在洙在敦促市民遵守安全指导的同时，似乎对外界的关注表示欢迎。

“很多人肯定都感到惊讶，”全先生周六在社交媒体上发帖写道。“据信，这条鲨鱼来到北港是为了觅食，因为气候变化导致该地区暖水鱼类数量增多。”

他表示，未来该地区出现鲨鱼的次数可能会更加频繁。

“我们将继续把北港打造成为一个物种丰富、和谐共存的美丽海域，”他说道。“我希望人们能更频繁地来北港游览，享受这里的一切，因为它将成为釜山未来海上之都的重要组成部分。我们将对安全负起责任。”