SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A huge gray shark named Bukangi has become an honorary mascot in South Korea’s biggest port city while slowly circling a canal where the animal has been trapped for nearly two weeks.
Officials in Busan have embraced the attention brought by the shark, which has drawn thousands of tourists and now shares the Korean name for the city’s North Port, where it was first spotted Sept. 18.
The shark, which officials say is about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long, has become a social media sensation, but guiding it back to open water has proved tricky.
Officials on Tuesday deployed five vessels to the waterway. They sprayed streams of water from tanks while attempting to herd the shark toward the open sea, an effort closely watched by huge crowds on site and broadcast on YouTube.
The crews gave up hours later after the shark repeatedly swam past or dived to avoid the boats, remaining inside the canal.
Kim Won-ho, a Busan City official, said authorities will make another attempt as early as Friday to free the shark, which experts say is important for its safety and long-term health.
The state-run National Institute of Fisheries Science is producing a specially designed net 50 meters (54 yards) long or bigger to be stretched across the waterway by boat to channel the shark toward the exit. Another boat will spray water from behind to drive the shark in that direction, according to tentative plans, he said.
“We’re adapting our response to the situation on site,” Kim said.
Officials have not detected any clear signs that the shark’s health has deteriorated while stuck in the canal, but they still consider its release to the open sea as crucial, he said.
About 600,000 visitors have flocked to the North Port to see the shark since counting began Sept. 19, including nearly half a million during last week’s Chuseok holiday break, the Korean Thanksgiving, city officials said.
“Bukangi has naturally become a new part of Busan’s story with the interest and love of the city’s people,” Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo said in a statement.
Members of the South Korean Coast Guard on a boat engage in an operation on the waterway of the North Port Waterfront Park as they attempt to herd a trapped shark toward the open sea in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 (Son Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)
People gather to watch a trapped shark at the North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 (Son Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 30, 2026--
IFF (NYSE: IFF), a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, today introduced AQUASCENT™, a new vegan, water-based carrier for fine fragrance. Crafted from a proprietary formula made with biodegradable materials, AQUASCENT™ delivers enhanced olfactive performance and visual clarity for consumers while supporting a more sustainable approach to shipping the product.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260929938674/en/
“AQUASCENT™ reflects our continued investment in new scent technologies and formats that create compelling fragrance experiences while supporting the industry’s growing focus on sustainability,” said Sabrya Meflah, president of Fine Fragrance for IFF Scent. “This technology illustrates our ambition to set a new standard for how fragrance is created, delivered and experienced.”
AQUASCENT™ is part of IFF's Science of Performance platform, which focuses on solutions that enhance fragrance performance by shaping how scent is delivered and experienced over time. The market for water-based fragrance continues to grow as leading brands launch new water-based products and consumers embrace new scent formats and experiences. IFF web-listening data shows that worldwide Google searches for “water-based perfumes” increased 18% year-to-date, while related TikTok content has generated more than 15 million views.
AQUASCENT™ supports fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems. Achieving this level of fragrance concentration in water-based formulations can be challenging, as fragrance oils can cause products to become cloudy when mixed with water. AQUASCENT™ overcomes this issue while maintaining transparency, enabling brands to create high-performance, visually clear fragrances.
As a result, fragrance brands can deliver the lastingness and visual elegance consumers associate with fine fragrance products. Formulated without intentionally added ethanol, preservatives or silicone, the technology features a non-sticky formulation with documented skin-hydrating properties for a comfortable skin feel.
AQUASCENT™ also offers a more resource-efficient approach to transportation. The carrier technology can be supplied as a concentrate alone, allowing fragrance brands to add water during final production rather than transporting it as part of the formula. By reducing the volume and weight of material shipped, this compact format can help lower CO 2 emissions from shipping.
“AQUASCENT™ approaches water-based fragrance as a complete fine fragrance system, balancing olfactive performance and visual clarity and a concentrated format designed for efficient transportation,” said Fatimata Dembele-Kuntzmann, Ph.D., senior technical manager for IFF Scent. “For brands, that means the opportunity to embrace a growing fragrance format without compromising the qualities that define the fine fragrance experience.”
Welcome to IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in taste, scent and biosciences, we’re innovating for the future. Every day, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable solutions that elevate products people love — advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn,Instagram and Facebook.
© 2026 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.
AQUASCENT™ is IFF's new water-based fragrance carrier technology that maintains visual clarity while supporting fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems.
