Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Surprising shark sightings have lured crowds to Busan's North Port waterfront park, leading city officials to enhance safety protocols while observing the marine life's return to open waters. An initial sighting of a shark, estimated to be at least 3 meters long, occurred at approximately 8:57 a.m. on Friday in a waterway at the port's Waterfront Park, according to authorities.

A second sighting was reported around 1:05 p.m. the following day. The shark was identified as a basking shark, a species commonly found in subtropical waters across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, including those off the Korean Peninsula.

Although basking sharks are typically not aggressive, city officials cautioned that they could pose a threat if provoked or approached too closely. The Korea Coast Guard initially attempted to guide the shark away from the narrow waterway. However, they halted the operation after the National Institute of Fisheries Science warned that disrupting the animal could elicit defensive or aggressive behavior. Rather than dissuading visitors, the unusual sight transformed the park into a hub of curiosity.