Real-life JAWS drama as giant shark becomes unlikely celebrity after getting trapped in South Korean canal

When a large shark appeared in a concrete canal in Busan, South Korea, in September 2026, authorities faced an extraordinary problem. How do you safely remove a powerful ocean predator from a confined waterway in the middle of one of the world's busiest shipping cities?

What followed was a remarkable story of marine conservation, public fascination and a shark that simply didn't seem to want to leave.

The female dusky shark, affectionately nicknamed Bukangi by locals, quickly became one of South Korea's most famous residents, attracting enormous crowds, inspiring merchandise and even triggering protests when authorities attempted to return her to the ocean.

But behind the excitement was a growing concern that Bukangi's unexpected visit could end in tragedy.

A real-life JAWS situation

Marine biologist Kim Hyun-woo, one of South Korea's leading shark experts, was returning from a research trip when he received an unusual request from the coastguard: a large shark had entered a shallow canal near Busan's North Port and needed rescuing.

While sharks are regularly found in South Korean waters, discovering such a large specimen in a concrete waterway surrounded by pedestrians was highly unusual.

The situation might sound like the opening of a JAWS sequel, but unlike Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster, the authorities weren't trying to protect a community from a shark on the hunt. They were trying to protect the shark itself.

Experts identified the animal as a female dusky shark, a large predatory species that can grow to more than three metres in length. Although potentially dangerous, dusky sharks are not generally considered a significant threat to humans.

Nevertheless, with crowds gathering along the waterfront, there were concerns that someone might accidentally fall into the water.

Officials knew the shark needed to be guided back to sea.

The shark that captured a nation's heart

News of Bukangi's arrival spread rapidly after city authorities issued an emergency text alert advising residents to exercise caution near the canal.

Rather than keeping people away, the warning had the opposite effect.

Thousands began flocking to the waterfront, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitor.

The shark was soon given the nickname Bukangi, inspired by Bukhang, the Korean name for the nearby North Port.

Before long, she had become a local celebrity.

Businesses began producing Bukangi-themed merchandise, including cuddly toys, badges and T-shirts. City authorities launched a livestream of her movements and even adopted her as an official mascot.

In one particularly unusual development, a campaign promoting a proposed 30,000-seat baseball stadium near the canal attempted to recruit Bukangi as its unofficial spokesperson.

The public's fascination was extraordinary.

Families gathered along the waterfront, with children often allowed to take the best viewing positions. Visitors helped one another spot the shark, while some concerned residents reportedly patrolled the area at night to prevent people from disturbing her with bright lights.

According to the BBC, more than 1.6 million people visited the canal during Bukangi's stay.

For a country suddenly captivated by a shark, Bukangi had achieved something remarkable: she had transformed an animal so often associated with fear into a symbol of community spirit.

Why wouldn't Bukangi leave?

While the public celebrated their new celebrity, marine scientists were becoming increasingly worried.

Bukangi had spent weeks swimming around the confined canal, repeatedly brushing against its concrete walls.

Researchers noticed bloody abrasions developing around her snout, while a particularly concerning injury was identified near one of her eyes.

There were also fears that she wasn't feeding properly.

The first rescue attempt involved a coastguard vessel equipped with an electrical deterrent designed to encourage sharks to move away from particular areas.

However, after five hours, the operation was abandoned because the animal was too large and fast for the equipment to be effective.

Scientists initially hoped Bukangi would find her own way out, but she continued swimming around the canal.

A second approach drew inspiration from an incident involving a great white shark in Massachusetts in 2004, when water jets were used to encourage the animal away from a shallow pond.

Unfortunately, Bukangi proved equally reluctant to cooperate.

Even when rescuers installed a net across the canal to prevent her returning, she managed to find a way around it.

Experts began questioning whether injuries to her snout might have affected her ability to navigate.

Sharks possess specialised sensory organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect electrical fields in the surrounding water. These senses help them locate prey and may contribute to navigation.

Scientists also considered whether noise from nearby shipping activity might have confused or disorientated Bukangi.

Whatever the explanation, the shark continued returning to the same stretch of water.

Could warming oceans explain her appearance?

Bukangi's unusual arrival has also raised questions about changing marine environments.

South Korea's oceans ministry suggested that rising sea temperatures could have contributed to her appearance, potentially encouraging the shark to follow fish populations into warmer coastal waters.

According to figures cited in the BBC report, approximately 50 large sharks were recorded off South Korea's east coast during the first six months of 2026, around four times the number recorded during the equivalent period the previous year.

Although these figures do not establish why Bukangi entered the canal, they raise important questions about changing shark distribution and the potential consequences of warming oceans.

For marine scientists, understanding these movements is increasingly important, particularly where sharks and densely populated coastal communities come into contact.

Protesters demand the shark be allowed to stay

As rescue attempts continued, the authorities encountered another unexpected problem.

Bukangi's fans didn't necessarily want her to leave.

Some residents began protesting against efforts to remove the shark, holding placards and demanding that officials stop interfering with her movements.

One protester reportedly shouted, "I love you, Bukangi!" as security personnel attempted to calm the crowd.

Others argued that the shark should be allowed to remain in what they considered her chosen home.

But marine biologists warned that the canal was no place for a wild shark.

As autumn approached, falling water temperatures would make conditions increasingly unsuitable. The confined environment also prevented Bukangi from behaving naturally and exposed her to further injury.

Other admirers reluctantly accepted that the animal's welfare had to come first.

One local resident summed up the mood by saying that although Bukangi had brought enormous happiness to the community, she deserved to return to her normal life in the ocean.

A final rescue mission

With public attention intensifying and concerns about Bukangi's health growing, South Korea's oceans ministry assumed responsibility for the rescue operation.

Approximately 40 personnel were mobilised, including specialist divers from Busan's aquarium.

Veterinary support was placed on standby, along with emergency medical assistance for the divers.

Rescuers installed two layers of netting designed to guide Bukangi towards the harbour entrance and prevent her from returning to the narrow canal.

Initially, the operation appeared successful.

But in a final twist, Bukangi managed to swim back overnight, passing beneath one of the barriers and becoming trapped between the nets.

The following day, rescuers adjusted their approach and removed the outer barrier.

This time, Bukangi began moving steadily towards the open sea.

Although she occasionally circled back, officials eventually concluded the operation, and subsequent days passed without another confirmed sighting inside the canal.

Experts cautiously welcomed the development, believing the shark might finally be adjusting to deeper, more suitable waters.

However, concerns remained about the injuries she had suffered during her extended stay.

From feared predator to national treasure

There is something particularly heartening about Bukangi's story.

For decades, sharks have struggled against a reputation shaped in no small part by popular culture, particularly the enormous influence of JAWS.

Spielberg's masterpiece transformed cinema forever, but it also helped cement the image of sharks as terrifying predators in the public imagination.

Half a century later, Bukangi has demonstrated just how differently people can respond when they encounter a shark in the real world.

Instead of demanding its destruction, an entire community became fascinated by its survival.

There were crowds, merchandise, public campaigns and even protests demanding the animal's protection.

In many ways, it was the complete opposite of Amity Island.

While Mayor Larry Vaughn worried about a shark driving tourists away from his beaches, Bukangi attracted more than a million visitors to Busan's waterfront.

And unlike the fictional shark that terrorised Amity, Bukangi became a celebrity simply by being there.

Her story also offers an important reminder that even the most powerful marine predators can become vulnerable when trapped in environments created by humans.

For now, the hope is that Bukangi has successfully returned to the open ocean, where she belongs.

Because sometimes, the happiest ending to a shark story is simply letting the shark swim away.

Source: Based on original reporting by BBC News, including interviews with marine biologists, local residents and officials involved in Bukangi's rescue operation.