Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Repeated shark sightings at Busan's North Port waterfront park have attracted crowds of curious visitors, prompting city authorities to enhance safety measures while monitoring the marine creature's return to open waters. On Friday morning around 8:57 a.m., a shark estimated to be at least 3 meters long was spotted in a waterway at the port's Waterfront Park, according to city officials. The following day, at approximately 1:05 p.m., another shark sighting was reported.

The animal, believed to be a basking shark, a species common in subtropical waters across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans including those off the Korean Peninsula, although not known to be aggressive, could still pose a threat if provoked or approached too closely. The Korea Coast Guard initially attempted to steer the shark out of the narrow waterway, but the National Institute of Fisheries Science advised against it, as forcing the animal could lead to defensive or aggressive behavior.

The unusual sight quickly turned the park into a hub of activity, rather than deterring visitors.