Officials Guided Busan's Famous Canal Shark Out to Sea. Then It Swam Right Back.

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 22, 2026 — After more than a month of living in a canal in Busan, South Korea's most famous shark was finally guided out toward the sea on Wednesday. By Thursday morning, it was back, Reuters and Yonhap reported.

The shark is nicknamed Bukangi, after Bukhang, the Korean name for Busan's North Port. It has become a full-blown local celebrity.

## A Shark With a Fan Club

Bukangi has drawn more than 1.6 million visitors to the canal, according to both Reuters and Yonhap. Reuters credits that figure to the Busan Infrastructure Corporation.

The shark was first spotted in the canal in September, and the waterfront park around it quickly turned into one of the city's biggest attractions. People come to watch it cruise the narrow waterway, something you don't usually see in the middle of a city.

## Third Time Was Almost the Charm

Officials have now tried three times to coax Bukangi back to open water, both outlets report. The first two attempts failed.

On Wednesday, the third try used floating platforms, known as pontoons, along with nets to steer the shark toward the canal's exit. Reuters reported that divers were part of the effort too, and Yonhap said city officials worked alongside the Coast Guard.

It worked. Bukangi was guided out of the canal, according to both outlets.

## Then It Came Back

The victory didn't last. On Thursday, the shark was found back inside, swimming in a narrow stretch of water between the barriers that had been put up specifically to keep it out, Reuters and Yonhap reported.

How did it get past them? Both outlets say the shark appears to have slipped underneath a barrier near the canal's entrance. Reuters said it went under one of the nets, and Yonhap said observers think it went under the pontoon.

In other words, the shark found the one gap nobody planned for.

## What Happens Next

For now, Bukangi is right back where the story started: in a city canal, drawing crowds, with officials trying to figure out their next move.

It is not a typical place for a shark, and that is exactly why so many people keep showing up to see it.

> What We Know
> - Who: A shark nicknamed Bukangi, after Busan's North Port
> - Where: A canal at a waterfront park in Busan, South Korea
> - Visitors: More than 1.6 million
> - Attempts to guide it out: Three
> - What happened: Guided out Wednesday, back inside by Thursday
> - How: It appears to have slipped under a barrier

Reported by Yonhap, Reuters via KSL

More weird news: [A Secondhand Roman Coffin](/stories/secondhand-roman-coffin) · [Record One-Ton Pumpkin in Circleville](/stories/circleville-record-one-ton-pumpkin) · [Racing Sausages' World Series Debut](/stories/racing-sausages-world-series-debut)

<small>Clown emoji: OpenMoji, CC BY-SA 4.0.</small>

Share Some Fun! Send a Clown O Gram for $7.99.