'Bukang-i' expanding range, expected to head to open sea within a week

A shark nicknamed "Bukang-i," which spent more than a month in an artificial waterway at a waterfront park in Busan's North Port before venturing out, appears to be preparing to head into the open sea.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and other agencies said Monday that Bukang-i was spotted Saturday and Sunday in waters off the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal pier.

The shark has been surfacing only intermittently in those waters — a notable change from its behavior in the narrow, shallow waterway, where it frequently broke the surface. Experts say this suggests Bukang-i is spending more time submerged.

The waterway had a depth of about 3 meters, and specialists believe the shark's increasing dive time indicates it is adapting to deeper water.

The latest sighting location is about 2 kilometers from Pier No. 1, where Bukang-i had previously been seen after being pushed out of the waterway. The shark appears to have moved out of the small cove enclosed by Pier No. 1 and the waterfront park, passing in front of the park before reaching the waters off the international passenger terminal.

Experts expect Bukang-i to gradually expand its range and eventually head out to the open sea as it adjusts to its new environment. Choi Yoon, an emeritus professor of biological resources at Gunsan University, told Yonhap that Bukang-i would "naturally make its way out to sea" after about a week of adapting to its new surroundings.

The shark's swimming condition is normal, and no notable injuries have been observed.

Authorities plan to continue monitoring Bukang-i's range and movements.

Bukang-i was first spotted in the waterfront park's waterway on Sept. 18 and remained there for more than a month before authorities guided it out to open waters on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Bukang-i became a "star shark," drawing wide affection from Busan residents and tourists alike.

YouTuber caught filming Bukang-i at restricted passenger terminal pier

Unlike the waterfront park, the international passenger terminal pier where Bukang-i was spotted is off-limits to the general public.

Amid the sightings, a YouTuber in his 30s was caught by the Korea Coast Guard on Sunday after renting a boat to approach the area. The Busan Maritime Police Station said the man was apprehended around 12:30 p.m. on charges of violating port security laws in waters near the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal.

The YouTuber had previously livestreamed Bukang-i in the North Port waterfront park waterway. When the shark moved toward the restricted passenger terminal area, he reportedly rented a vessel to get closer.

He livestreamed the boat trip on YouTube, and a viewer reported him to authorities, who dispatched coast guard officers to apprehend him.

Meanwhile, Bukang-i drew more than 1.6 million visitors after it was first discovered in the artificial waterway at the North Port waterfront park.

The shark's appearance and related changes to the local marine ecosystem were also raised during a recent national audit of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee.

yul@heraldcorp.com