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A 3.5-meter shark that has remained in a canal in South Korea for nearly two weeks has turned into an unexpected tourist attraction, drawing around 600,000 visitors since Sept. 19.
The shark was first spotted on Sept. 18 in a canal north of Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. After quickly gaining attention online, it was nicknamed "Bukangi" after the area where it appeared.
Thousands of people have since poured into the area to catch a glimpse of the animal, with visitor numbers reaching about 600,000.
Authorities launched a rescue operation on Sept. 28, sending out five boats and spraying water from tanks in an effort to steer Bukangi back toward the sea.
The operation was broadcast live on YouTube and followed by thousands of viewers, but the shark repeatedly made its way back into the canal after officials tried to guide it out.
Authorities eventually called off the operation after the repeated attempts failed.
Busan city official Kim Won-ho said another effort to move the shark out of the canal would be carried out on Friday.
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