"Unexpected Danger Exists," Expert Warns... What Was Said to Crowds Flocking to See 3m Shark at Busanhang North Port

Eyewitness Reports Spread of Citizen Trying to Throw Raw Chicken as Bait
"Shark May Attack if Provoked"

A large shark measuring up to 3 meters in length has appeared in the artificial waterway of Busanhang North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, drawing crowds of tourists from across the nation. However, experts have warned that people should avoid provoking the shark at close range or throwing food to it.

Citizens are capturing on camera the shark that appeared in the waterway of Busanhang North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

Choi Yoon, a professor of marine biological resources at Kunsan National University and shark expert, said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Park Sungtae’s News Show' on the 22nd, "I believe the shark entered the waterway while chasing prey during a hunting process," regarding the recent sightings.

He explained that the possibility of the shark attacking a person cannot be completely ruled out. Although Professor Choi noted that cases of shark attacks resulting in loss of life are not frequent globally, he emphasized, "Many shark attacks occur when humans provoke the animal first. If you approach and provoke the shark, you may be attacked."

"There is Enough Food in the Wild—Do Not Throw Anything"

Recently, on social network services (SNS), an eyewitness report spread that a citizen was stopped while trying to throw raw chicken to the shark. Professor Choi stated, "It's much better not to throw anything, as that can also be seen as provocation," adding, "Sandbar sharks in the wild eat fish, and they rarely eat meat or food thrown by humans."

On the 20th, as a shark lost in the waterway of Busan Port North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, continued to appear for the third day, citizens are waiting to watch it. Photo by Yonhap News

He also expressed a negative view on the idea of feeding the shark fish, like sardines. Professor Choi said, "Sharks in this environment do not eat dead animals. If it gets hungry enough later, it might eat such things, but currently, there is sufficient food available in the waterway, so the shark is not hungry."

'Shark Effect': 20,000 Visit Busanhang North Port Waterfront Park Over Weekend—4 to 5 Times the Usual Crowd

The shark was first spotted at 8:57 a.m. on September 18. The Coast Guard responded to the report and carried out a removal operation, but the shark did not leave the waterway. Even after using a shark deterrent, the efforts proved ineffective. Following advice from the National Institute of Fisheries Science that aggressive removal operations could stimulate the shark’s aggressiveness, the Coast Guard withdrew and decided to wait for the shark to leave on its own.

Due to the shark’s appearance, the waterfront park has seen an unexpected surge in visitors. According to Busan City on September 22, nearly 20,000 people visited the park over the previous weekend. Attendance was estimated at about 8,800 on Saturday the 19th and about 10,000 on Sunday the 20th. Considering the park’s usual weekend average of about 2,000 visitors per day, this is four to five times higher than normal.

"Low Risk of Attack on People Outside the Water, but Falling In Is Extremely Dangerous"

The shark in the waterfront park waterway has been identified as a sandbar shark, a member of the Carcharhinidae family. This species is widely distributed across the subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, including all seas around Korea. Experts assume the shark is a fully grown adult and note that sandbar sharks are considered aggressive. While the likelihood of the shark attacking someone outside the water is almost nonexistent, experts warn there is significant risk if anyone falls or enters the water while watching it.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.