Shark fever hits Busan as 102,000 rush to see 'Bukangi' at start of Chuseok break

More than 100,000 people visited a waterfront park at Busan’s North Port on Wednesday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, to see a shark nicknamed Bukangi. Busan Metropolitan City urged people to use public transportation because of severe congestion, and restricted access around the canal from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. The shark had first been spotted on Sept. 18 and had stayed in the canal for eight days as of Thursday. Authorities plan to wait through the holiday before deciding whether to guide it out.

The Busan Facilities Corporation said about 93,000 people had visited the waterfront park in Dong District by 6 p.m. Wednesday, with the total later estimated at around 102,000.

The park usually receives about 2,000 visitors on a holiday.

Bukangi was first spotted on Sept. 18 and had remained in the canal for eight days as of Thursday.

Busan Metropolitan City issued a safety alert asking people to avoid driving and use public transportation because of severe congestion.

The city restricted access to areas around the canal from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily to prevent safety accidents.

Published Sep 25, 2026 12:18 pm KST

People take photos of a shark spotted in a canal at the North Port waterfront park in Busan, Sept. 20. Yonhap

More than 100,000 people flocked to a waterfront park at Busan’s North Port on Wednesday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, hoping to catch a glimpse of a shark nicknamed “Bukangi” that has been spotted in a canal there. The turnout was about 50 times the park’s usual holiday visitor count.

According to the Busan Facilities Corporation on Thursday, approximately 93,000 people had visited the waterfront park in Dong District by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Including visitors who arrived later, the total was estimated at around 102,000. The park typically receives about 2,000 visitors on a holiday.

The shark, which was spotted at North Port and given the nickname Bukangi, has become a local attraction, drawing crowds even during the holiday period.

People visit the North Port waterfront park in Busan for shark spotting, Sept. 20. Yonhap

The waterfront park is about 500 meters from Busan Station and is within walking distance. As crowds gathered around the park Wednesday afternoon, Busan Metropolitan City sent a safety alert urging people to avoid driving and to use public transportation, warning of severe congestion in the area.

To prevent safety accidents, the city has restricted access to areas around the canal from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

Bukangi, first spotted on Sept. 18, has remained in the canal for eight days as of Thursday.

Relevant authorities, including Busan Metropolitan City, plan to wait through the holiday to see whether the shark leaves the canal on its own. If it remains there afterward, they will consider measures such as guiding it out of the canal.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

周三是中秋节假期的第一天，超过10万人涌入釜山北港的滨水公园，一睹名为“布坎吉”（Bukangi）的鲨鱼的风采。由于交通严重拥堵，釜山广域市政府呼吁民众使用公共交通工具，并限制每天晚上6点至次日早上6点在运河附近通行。这条鲨鱼最早于9月18日被发现，截至周四已在运河中停留了8天。当局计划在假期结束后再决定是否将其引出。

釜山设施公社表示，截至周三下午 6 点，约有 93,000 人次参观了东区的海滨公园，之后估计总参观人数约为 102,000 人次。

节假日期间，公园通常会接待约2000名游客。

Bukangi 于 9 月 18 日首次被发现，截至周四，它已经在运河中停留了八天。

釜山广域市发布安全警报，呼吁民众避免驾车出行，尽量乘坐公共交通工具，因为交通严重拥堵。

为防止发生安全事故，市政府每天晚上 6 点至早上 6 点限制进入运河周边区域。

发布于2026年9月25日下午12:18（韩国标准时间）

9月20日，在釜山北港滨水公园，人们拍摄在运河中发现的鲨鱼。（韩联社）

周三是中秋节假期的第一天，超过10万人涌向釜山北港的海滨公园，希望能一睹在当地运河中被发现的、绰号为“Bukangi”的鲨鱼的风采。当天的游客数量约为该公园平日假期游客量的50倍。

据釜山设施公社周四发布的数据，截至周三下午6点，约有9.3万人次到访了东区滨水公园。如果算上之后到达的游客，总人数估计约为10.2万人次。该公园节假日通常接待约2000名游客。

这条在北港被发现的鲨鱼被昵称为“布坎吉”，已经成为当地的一大景点，即使在节假日期间也吸引了众多游客。

9月20日，人们前往釜山北港海滨公园观赏鲨鱼。（韩联社）

滨水公园距离釜山站约500米，步行即可到达。周三下午，公园周围聚集了大量人群，釜山广域市政府发布安全警报，敦促民众避免驾车，尽量使用公共交通工具，并警告该地区交通严重拥堵。

为防止发生安全事故，市政府已限制每天晚上 6 点至早上 6 点期间进入运河周边区域。

Bukangi 于 9 月 18 日首次被发现，截至周四，它已经在运河中停留了八天。

包括釜山广域市在内的相关部门计划观察鲨鱼是否会在假期期间自行离开运河。如果假期结束后鲨鱼仍然留在运河内，他们将考虑采取措施，例如引导鲨鱼离开运河。

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。