Crowds flock to Busan's North Port to catch a glimpse of 'Bukang-i'

Crowds gathered at the waterfront park at Busan's North Port from the morning Saturday, the second day of the Hangul Day holiday, to see the blacktip shark nicknamed "Bukang-i."

Spectators lined up along the waterway cheered each time Bukang-i raised its fin above the surface and swept its tail from side to side as it glided past, according to Yonhap.

Now in its 23rd day at the port, Bukang-i had recently drawn concern over its health, but the shark was seen swimming its usual laps around the waterway.

Exactly why Bukang-i continues to linger at North Port — despite its sensitivity to electronic signals — remains unclear, with speculation running rampant but no definitive answer emerging.

Since Bukang-i first appeared on Sept. 18, the waterfront park has drawn more than 1.2 million visitors as of Friday.

A citizen patrol group formed after the shark was startled by bright lights shone by some visitors at night, causing it to behave erratically and sustain an injury to its mouth.

Elsewhere in the city, many residents spread out picnic mats and spent a leisurely afternoon at Busan Citizens Park and APEC Naru Park.

At Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches, beachgoers waded into the sea to cool off under the still-scorching midday sun.

At the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae and the multiplex theaters in Centum City, moviegoers turned out in force for the fifth day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, with a series of events hosted by the festival organizers continuing throughout the day.