230,000 flock to Busan's North Port during Chuseok to see 'Bukang-i' the shark

Crowds continued to pour into North Port Waterfront Park in Busan over the Chuseok holiday to catch a glimpse of "Bukang-i," a shark that has taken up residence in the park's artificial waterway. Even rain on Saturday, the third day of the holiday, did little to deter the throngs who gathered from the morning.

Bukang-i first entered the waterway on Sept. 18 and was spotted swimming along its edges. News coverage and SNS posts quickly spread word of the shark's presence, drawing a rapidly growing stream of visitors.

The number of people coming to North Port to see the shark jumped sharply over the Chuseok holiday. Daily visitor counts climbed steadily in the days before the holiday — 8,800 on Sept. 19, 10,000 on Sunday, 13,000 on Monday, 17,000 on Tuesday and 37,000 on Wednesday — before surging to 101,000 on Thursday, the first day of the holiday, and 136,000 on Friday.

The cumulative total reached more than 230,000 during the Chuseok holiday alone, with the overall count surpassing 320,000.

Word spread through media coverage and SNS, drawing sightseers from across the country for the holiday. Tourists and homebound travelers arriving at nearby Busan Station were also commonly seen heading to the waterfront park with luggage in tow.

Convenience stores and cafes near the park have been enjoying an unexpected windfall from the crowds flocking to see the shark.

As the rain let up Saturday afternoon, even more people arrived, leaving the North Port parking lot heavily congested.

Busan city officials urged visitors to avoid driving and use public transportation instead.

Officials said they would consider options — including returning Bukang-i to the sea — if the shark does not leave the waterway on its own during the holiday and remains after the break ends.