"It Just Sits There, Yet It's a Smash Hit"—the Busan Shark 'Bukangi' Boom Even Spawns a Character

[Financial News]  A shark that appeared in the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, is attracting attention from residents and tourists and emerging as a local attraction. In response, Dong-gu plans to create a shark character as a tourist souvenir and use it to promote the district.
Dong-gu, Busan, announced on the 23rd that it recently decided to turn the shark spotted in the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park into a commemorative character for local government promotions.
The shark has become highly popular under the name 'Bukangi,' meaning a shark that appeared at North Port.
Dong-gu plans to hold a nationwide competition early next month to select the name and design of a shark-themed character.
However, officials explained that the shark character will not be designated as the local government's official mascot.
As interest in the shark continues to grow, content posted on Dong-gu's official social media accounts is also recording high view counts.
According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), the shark is estimated to be about 3.5 meters long and is believed to be a bull shark. After it was first spotted in the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park on the 18th, it continued to appear for a sixth straight day, drawing residents and tourists to the site.
Nearby businesses are welcoming the development. Cafes and restaurants in the area are seeing higher sales, while shark-related stock prices have also surged, allowing them to benefit from what is being called a 'shark boom.'
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter