South Korea gets a new internet star as Busan shark sighting goes viral
After publishing: 1 description edited1 change
- BBC News Worldseen 22 Oct, 07:13description edited
what the description said, before and after
A third attempt has been made to guide the 9ft 10in (3m) shark back to the open sea.Early on Thursday morning local time, South Korea's oceans ministry said the shark had been successfully guided out of the canal.
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Who published it, and when
+ 12 more outlets
How it spread - 45 original reports, 1 reprint
Mon, 21 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post12:53first to report
A 3.5-metre-long shark that wandered into a Busan waterfront channel has become an unlikely internet celebrity in South Korea, drawing nearly 20,000 spectators over the weekend as authorities opted to leave the animal alone rather than risk provoking it. The shark was first spotted on Friday in the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park, where it has remained for at least four consecutive days despite repeated efforts by the public to catch a glimpse of it. South Korea’s National Institute of...
Tue, 29 September 2026
4 reports- RMF24 (Poland)07:30
„Potwór” utknął w kanale miejskim. Tłumy zlatują się, by go zobaczyć
- straitstimes.com09:28
Rescue efforts for a 3.5m shark stranded in Busan canal failed; the city plans another attempt to guide it back to sea using a special net. Read more at straitstimes.com.
- Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)12:17
In Busan in Südkorea hat sich ein großer Hai im Hafen verirrt und findet den Weg zurück ins Meer nicht. Trotz Hilfestellungen. Dafür lockt er jetzt Hunderttausende an und bekommt einen Ehrentitel.
- ANSA (Italy)14:07
La città portuale di Busan invasa da turisti curiosi di vedere l'animale di 3,5 metri
Wed, 30 September 2026
10 reports- Novinky (Czechia)03:10
Tři a půl metru dlouhý žralok, který uvázl v městském vodním kanálu v jihokorejském přístavu Pusan, se stal obří turistickou atrakcí. Od 18. září, kdy tam byl spatřen poprvé, už místo navštívilo více než 600 tisíc lidí, oznámily městské úřady. Zvíře, patrně žralok měděný (Carcharhinus brachyurus), dostalo přezdívku Bukang-i podle tamního přístavu.
- brandonsun.com07:25
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A huge gray shark named Bukangi has become an honorary mascot in South Korea’s biggest port city while slowly circling a canal where the animal has been trapped for nearly two weeks.
- rnz.co.nz08:00
A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing massive crowds, earning plaudits from the local mayor and even moving the stock market.
- Index.hr (Croatia)08:04
MORSKI pas koji je zalutao u luku u južnokorejskom Busanu postao je prava atrakcija.
- N1 Info (Croatia)08:14
Morski pas koji je zalutao u luku u južnokorejskom gradu Busanu postao je najnovija atrakcija u zemlji, a gradske vlasti navode da se u protekla dva t
1 reprint
- tportal (Croatia)30 Sept, 08:16their copy
- Vecernji list (Croatia)08:16
Dok vlasti već danima bezuspješno pokušavaju vratiti trometarskog morskog psa u ocean, znatiželjnici u rekordnom broju dolaze pogledati životinju koja je u međuvremenu postala i počasna ambasadorica grada
- Der Spiegel (Germany)08:20
Die Koreaner haben einen dreieinhalb Meter langen Hai ins Herz geschlossen. Das Tier sitzt seit zwei Wochen in einem Kanal in Busan fest. Es kurbelt den Eisabsatz an – und lässt sogar Börsenkurse steigen.
- Telegram.hr (Croatia)08:23
Morski pas je proglašen počasnim ambasadorom za odnose s javnošću
- DW Top Stories09:07
The South Korean port of Busan says that a stranded shark has become a major tourist draw. It's also named the ocean predator an honorary ambassador to the city.
- Le Figaro (France)15:03
Un requin égaré dans un canal artificiel à Busan en Corée du Sud est devenu une célébrité inattendue, attirant les foules, stimulant le commerce local et faisant même brièvement grimper une action en Bourse.
Fri, 2 October 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post13:27
A second attempt to guide a shark stranded in a canal in the South Korean port city of Busan back to the open sea ended without success on Friday, with the animal staying in the waterway into its third week. Rescuers, who had been using a net to try to coax it out, had to end the operation after a two-hour chase due to the risk of their huge net getting caught on rocks. They now hope that the shark will eventually swim out to the open sea on its own, after leaving the net in place to limit...
Sun, 4 October 2026
1 report- iDNES (Czechia)15:20
Velký žralok, který uvázl v jednom z úzkých vodních kanálů v jihokorejském přístavním městě Pusan, se stal nečekanou turistickou atrakcí. Za více než týden se na zbloudilého mořského predátora přijelo podívat více než 600 tisíc lidí, napsal zpravodajský server The Guardian. Tři a půl metru dlouhý žralok byl poprvé spatřen v přímořském vodním parku v Pusanu 18. září.
Tue, 6 October 2026
1 report- Euronews09:00
A bull shark nicknamed ‘Bukhangi’ has drawn about one million visitors to a Busan canal, sparking both fascination and concern for its welfare.
Wed, 7 October 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post03:52
A marooned three-metre-long (nine feet) shark in South Korea has drawn more than a million visitors to the coastal city of Busan, boosting local retail sales and triggering a trademark war, as authorities rush to stop opportunistic vendors from cashing in on the viral phenomenon. The shark, nicknamed “Bukangi” in reference to the park where it has become trapped, has become an internet darling and tourist sensation after non-stop local media coverage about multiple failed efforts to encourage...
Fri, 16 October 2026
1 report- mongabay.com15:01
SEOUL — Wedged between skyscrapers and a bustling passenger ferry port in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, a celebrity of sorts is drawing thousands of admirers as it has been swimming for weeks now in a shallow city canal. Bukangi, a shark named after the waterfront park where she is trapped, has attracted nearly 1.4 […]
Sat, 17 October 2026
1 report- NYT World02:44
Stranded in a port waterway for weeks, the 10-foot fish has attracted more than a million spectators, while officials try to guide her back to open sea.
Wed, 21 October 2026
11 reports- BBC News World08:19edited after publishing
Early on Thursday morning local time, South Korea's oceans ministry said the shark had been successfully guided out of the canal.
- Euronews10:39
Officials in Busan made a third attempt to guide a trapped shark out of a canal and back to sea. The animal has drawn over a million visitors.
- The Guardian World11:41
Bukang-i successfully guided out after month in which it drew 1.6m visitors and was watched over by YouTubers In South Korea , they call them jagyeongdan , a word whose meaning sits somewhere between vigilante group and neighbourhood watch. Each night they put on hi-vis vests, picked up their selfie sticks and gathered around the harbour in Busan to keep watch over an unlikely charge: a stranded shark affectionately known as Bukang-i. On Wednesday, after more than a month in the canal and at...
- thestar.com.my12:41
SEOUL: Busan authorities will make a third attempt on the afternoon of Oct 21 to guide a shark out of a canal at North Port Waterfront Park in South Korea as concerns grow over its health.
- NYT World13:15
The 10-foot-long dusky shark, nicknamed “Bukangi,” was successfully guided back to the open ocean after a third rescue attempt.
- iRozhlas (Czechia)14:02
Jihokorejským úřadům se podařilo vyvést žraloka, který uvíznul ve vodním kanálu v přístavním městě Pusan na jihu poloostrova. Středeční pokus o jeho vysvobození byl již třetí. Zvíře v kanálu strávilo více než měsíc. Informovala o tom agentura Jonhap.
- Der Spiegel (Germany)14:39
Er lockte mehr als 1,6 Millionen Besucher in die südkoreanische Stadt Busan: Der verirrte Schwarzhai »Bukangi« ist zurück im Meer. Oder zumindest auf dem Weg dorthin.
- iDNES (Czechia)15:22
Jihokorejským úřadům se podařilo vyvést žraloka, který uvízl ve vodním kanálu v přístavním městě Pusan na jihu poloostrova. Středeční pokus o jeho vysvobození byl již třetí, akce trvala několik hodin. Zvíře v kanálu strávilo více než měsíc, původně se předpokládalo, že žralok dokáže vyplavat sám.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)15:52
Bukang-i spotted in waters outside the canal, which are not considered open sea, as authorities hope shark will eventually make way into open waters
- Novinky (Czechia)16:13
Žraloka, který před více než měsícem uvázl v kanálu v jihokorejském přístavním městě Pusan a stal se miláčkem tamní veřejnosti, se ve středu po dvou neúspěšných pokusech konečně podařilo navést zpět na otevřené moře. Oznámily to jihokorejské úřady.
- thestar.com.my19:38
SEOUL: A shark that has become a viral sensation in South Korea was coaxed out of a canal in which it was stuck, authorities said on Wednesday (Oct 21), as falling temperatures raised concerns for its survival.
Thu, 22 October 2026
13 reports- durangoherald.com00:55
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A large dusky shark trapped for more than a month in a canal finally swam out to sea Wednesday as officials in the South Korean port
- BBC News World04:12
Bukangi the shark became an unlikely sensation after it was spotted in a canal in Busan weeks ago.
- Channel News Asia04:38
The shark - nicknamed Bukhangi by fans - has drawn more than 1.6 million visitors to a canal in South Korea’s Busan since it was first spotted there last month.
- Index.hr (Croatia)04:49
MORSKA psina, prozvana Bukangi, postala je neočekivana senzacija nakon što je prošlog mjeseca uočena kako se zadržava u kanalu u jugoistočnom lučkom gradu Busanu.
- Le Figaro (France)08:04
Évacué d’un canal de Busan, le requin-bouledogue surnommé «Bukhangi» y est revenu quelques heures plus tard. Les autorités tentent à nouveau de le guider vers la mer, alors que le refroidissement de l’eau menace sa santé.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)08:22
Endangered dusky shark slips past barrier in Busan as authorities consider fresh rescue attempt amid health concerns
- Novinky (Czechia)09:24
Ze žraloka v korejském Pusanu je atrakce. Třímetrová samice se v polovině září zabydlela v místním umělém kanálu a neuspěly už tři pokusy, jak ji dostat zpět na volné moře. Další pobyt v mělkém prostoru u města je pro ni podle odborníků nebezpečný. Turisté si ji ale zamilovali, dostala přezdívku Pugangi a podívat se na ni přišlo už 1,6 milionu lidí. Samospráva ji dokonce jmenovala ambasadorkou města. Ve středu večer se zdálo, že záchranná operace uspěla a Pugangi se podařilo nasměrovat pryč, ta...
- RMF24 (Poland)10:21
Wrócił niczym bumerang. Gigantyczny rekin znów w miejskim kanale
- Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)10:21
- Telegram.hr (Croatia)11:26
Morski pas postao je turistička atrakcija u južnokorejskom lučkom gradu
- ABC News (Australia)11:54
Although "Bukangi" has become a mascot for the city of Busan, everyone agrees the dusky shark should go back to the open sea. But getting her to leave is proving difficult.
- Al Jazeera English13:05
An endangered shark swam back into a canal in South Korea after rescuers had led it back out to sea.
- thestar.com.my16:15
SEOUL: A shark that became a viral sensation after getting stuck in a South Korean canal returned hours after being coaxed out, authorities said on Thursday, prompting another attempt to guide it back to the sea.