Copper shark's four-day stay in South Korea's Busan harbour draws massive crowds

A copper shark sighting in Busan's harbour waters has drawn nearly 20,000 visitors to the North Port Waterfront Park over the weekend, turning the marine visitor into South Korea's newest viral sensation.

The shark was first spotted on Friday in the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park and has remained in the area for at least four consecutive days, attracting crowds eager to catch a glimpse of it. The unusual sighting has also spawned a flood of memes across social media platforms.

Identification and monitoring efforts

South Korea's National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS) has provisionally identified the animal as a copper shark, also known as a bronze whaler, though experts caution that its exact species has not yet been confirmed. The provisional identification suggests the shark may have wandered into the harbour from deeper waters, though the reason for its prolonged stay remains unclear.

The Korea Coast Guard initially spent about six hours on Friday attempting to guide the shark towards the open sea, deploying specialist personnel and patrol vessels for the operation. However, officials stopped the effort after fisheries experts warned that forcing the animal through the narrow channel could provoke aggressive behaviour or cause injury to the shark.

Authorities have since shifted to monitoring the shark and urging people to keep their distance for safety reasons.

Source: South China Morning Post