South Korea Renews Effort to Lead Trapped Shark Back to Sea

WHO:

ABC News World - South Korean officials are trying to free the trapped shark.

BBC News - Large crowds watched an attempt to save the shark.

Phys.org - South Korean authorities began a new effort to guide the shark back to sea.

WHAT:

ABC News World - Officials struggled to free a large gray shark trapped in a canal for over a month.

BBC News - A third attempt was made to guide the shark back to the open sea.

BBC News - The shark was reported as 9ft 10in (3m) long.

Phys.org - Authorities launched a new bid to coax the shark back to sea; it had become a viral sensation.

WHERE:

ABC News World - The shark was trapped in a canal in Busan, South Korea.

Phys.org - The shark was stranded in a Busan canal.

WHY:

Phys.org - Falling temperatures in the canal raised concerns about the shark’s survival.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 11:00 UTC)

South Korean authorities made a third attempt to guide a large gray shark back to the open sea after it was trapped in a Busan canal for more than a month. The roughly 10-foot shark had drawn large crowds and become a viral sensation. Officials are concerned that falling temperatures in the canal could threaten its survival.