More than 100,000 people visited a waterfront park in Busan on the first day of South Korea’s Chuseok holiday to view a large shark stranded in an artificial waterway. According to Busan Facilities, around 93,000 visitors had come to North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu by 6 p.m. Thursday. After access to the area was restricted from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for safety reasons, additional visitors were estimated, bringing the total number to approximately 102,000 for the day.

This figure represents roughly 50 times the park’s usual holiday attendance of about 2,000 visitors. The unexpected surge in crowds prompted the Busan municipal government to issue a safety advisory in the afternoon, warning of potential severe traffic congestion and urging the public to use public transportation rather than private vehicles.

The shark, measuring approximately 3.5 meters in length and nicknamed “Bukangi,” was first spotted in the park’s artificial waterway on September 18. Since then, its presence has attracted thousands of spectators daily, providing a noticeable boost to business for nearby convenience stores and cafes.

Authorities have indicated that they will continue to monitor the situation throughout the Chuseok holiday, hoping the shark will leave the waterway voluntarily. Should Bukangi remain after the holiday period, officials plan to develop a strategy to safely encourage the animal’s departure from the area.