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Bukangi the Shark at Busan's North Port Waterfront Park: Timeline, Official Video and Visiting Tips

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AI-generated illustration of a gray shark beneath rippling canal water, with white pen marks and the note swim well, little friend.

AT A GLANCE

Where
Canal at North Port Waterfront Park (Bukhang chinsu gongwon), Dong-gu, Busan
Appeared
September 18, 2026
Visits
607,074 park visits Sept 19–28 (Newsis); reports of over 1 million by Oct 6
Oct 2 guiding effort
A net was set to lead it to sea; it crossed back the next day and the net was removed
Status
Still in the canal as of early-October reports; check the city's notices

Bukangi is the name people gave a shark that appeared on September 18, 2026 in a canal at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan’s Dong-gu district. North Port is called Bukhang in Korean. It is a wild animal in a waterway beside a public park, not an aquarium display, and the story drew huge crowds. This guide gives a timeline and tips for visiting. Checked on 2026-10-12.

The hero image is AI-generated and does not show the actual shark or site.

Timeline

  • September 18: The shark appeared in the canal.
  • Late September: The National Institute of Fisheries Science was reported to consider it a shark of the heuksangeo type (a “black shark” in Korean). One report described it as a female about 3 m long. Early reports had given a different estimate, so the identification has been refined (Newsis, Sept 28).
  • September 19–28: Newsis reported 607,074 park visits, citing the city and Busan Infrastructure Corporation. That counts visits, not people who saw the shark. One report said over 1 million cumulative visitors had come by October 6.
  • September 28: Busan said the shark’s condition was stable but that a longer stay could weaken it (city announcement).
  • October 2: Authorities set a 50 m by 6.8 m net near the fourth pedestrian bridge to guide the shark toward the sea. It crossed back inside around noon on October 3, and the net was removed that afternoon so the shark could leave on its own (iNews24, in Korean).
  • Early October: A report said it had minor abrasion near its snout and that feeding had not been detected after weeks in the canal.

The October 2–3 guiding attempt in detail

According to News24, authorities spread a net 50 m long and 6.8 m high near the 4th pedestrian bridge.

  • October 2: they pulled the net toward the 6th pedestrian bridge, closer to the sea, to guide Bukangi out of the canal. The net caught on the canal floor and Bukangi would not leave, so they fixed the net about 100 m inside the canal exit and stopped.
  • Around noon on October 3: Bukangi circled the net looking for gaps and got over it back into the canal.
  • Around 4:20 p.m. on October 3: they removed the net to open a path to the open sea.

Authorities then decided to watch for a while to see whether Bukangi would head out by itself without further rescue. It was being seen in the canal between the 4th and 5th pedestrian bridges, where it often appears. Busan facilities officials stepped up patrols for the holiday crowds, and the park had passed 700,000 cumulative visitors since the shark appeared.

Official video

The city shared an official video of Bukangi in the canal, which gives a view of the setting without joining the crowd.

Tips for visiting

  • This is an unfolding wildlife story. There is no guaranteed viewing time, and the shark may not be visible.
  • Follow staff directions and any access restrictions.
  • Keep out of the water and do not feed the shark.
  • Expect crowds, especially on weekends. Public transit is easier than driving.
  • Leave room for the people working at the site.
  • Check Busan’s notices for the latest status before you go.

Good for / not for

Good for

  • Locals and visitors curious about the story who can accept that the shark may not appear

Not for

  • Anyone who needs a guaranteed sighting

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-12. The situation is changing.