Stranded shark in Busan canal guided out after more than a month, with livestreamers keeping watch

Summary

A dusky shark, about 10 feet long and nicknamed Bukang-i, was guided out of a canal at the harbour in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday at the third rescue attempt, after more than a month stranded there, South Korea's oceans ministry said. Officials expect the animal to move into open water in time. The New York Times describes the shark as guided back to the open ocean. Each night, livestreamers in hi-vis vests with selfie sticks gathered around the harbour to watch over her, a practice South Koreans call jagyeongdan, a word that sits between vigilante group and neighbourhood watch. The Guardian reports that the streams drew more than 1.6 million visitors.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   21 Oct 2026, 11:41 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that livestreamers known as jagyeongdan watched over the shark Bukang-i in a Busan canal each night, that it was guided out at the third attempt on Wednesday according to South Korea's oceans ministry, and that the streams drew more than 1.6 million visitors.

2. The New York Times

   21 Oct 2026, 20:44 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that the 10-foot-long dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, was successfully guided back to the open ocean after a third rescue attempt, following more than a month stuck in a South Korean port canal.