Busan shark remains unsighted for 11 days after monthlong stay in canal

The Korea Herald · Yonhap · 2026-11-06 02:18 UTC

Bukang-i the shark, which drew more than a million viewers while staying in a coastal canal in the southeastern city of Busan for over a month, has not been see

Bukang-i the shark, which drew more than a million viewers while staying in a coastal canal in the southeastern city of Busan for over a month, has not been seen for 11 consecutive days, raising the possibility that it has finally headed out to the open sea.

According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science and relevant agencies, no sightings of Bukang-i have been reported since Oct. 27 near the exit of the canal leading out to Busan's North Port, located about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Experts speculate dropping water temperatures near the canal's exit could have played a role in the shark's disappearance. The optimal water temperature for sharks is between 18 and 26 C, but surface water temperatures off the North Port have fallen to 18-19 C.

Read the full story at The Korea Herald · All coverage of this story