'Bukang-i' adapts to open waters off Busan

Bukang-i, the dusky shark that left the artificial waterway at Busan's North Port waterfront park, was spotted in the waters off Busan Port over the weekend, showing signs of adapting to the open sea.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Institute of Fisheries Science, Bukang-i was sighted Saturday and Sunday in the waters off the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal pier — about 2 kilometers from Pier No. 1, where the shark had previously been seen. The sighting confirmed that Bukang-i had moved out of the small bay enclosed by Pier No. 1 and the waterfront park and into the broader sea.

While in the waterway, Bukang-i frequently surfaced just below the water line, but in the waters off Busan Port it appeared only intermittently, spending longer stretches diving deep. Its swimming appeared normal and no visible injuries were found. Experts said the behavior reflects the shark adjusting to deeper water after leaving the roughly 3-meter-deep shallow waterway.

The area is not yet considered open ocean, but experts expect Bukang-i to gradually expand its range as it grows accustomed to the new environment. Choi Yoon, an emeritus professor of biological resources at Gunsan University, said the shark would "naturally head out to sea once it has adapted to the new environment for about a week."

After Bukang-i left the waterway, an oil spill occurred Friday in the waters near the North Port waterfront park. Busan Coast Guard confirmed roughly 24 hours later, on Sunday, that 87 liters of oil had leaked from an oil tanker's transfer hose and cited the vessel for failing to report the incident. Bukang-i had vanished from view that morning, raising concern, but the shark was confirmed to be in good health the following day and no causal link to the oil spill has been established.

Bukang-i was first spotted in the waterfront park waterway on Sept. 18 and remained there for more than a month, drawing more than 1.6 million visitors to the North Port area. The shark left the waterway Wednesday after three rounds of guided-exit operations by authorities, but the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has continued monitoring its location without ruling out the possibility that it could return.

Meanwhile, Busan began distributing 16 animated Bukang-i emoticons free of charge to the first 50,000 users starting at 2 p.m. Monday. The city said it would offer the emoticon set — titled "Sha-fluencer Bukang-i Came to Busan!" — to users who newly add its official KakaoTalk channel. The emoticons, created by city civil servants, feature expressions commonly used in everyday conversation along with playful movements.

The emoticons are available only to users who add the Busan city KakaoTalk channel for the first time after 2 p.m. Monday; those who had previously added the channel must re-add it to receive them. Distribution will end early once the available supply runs out.