Busan, South Korea – A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing massive crowds, earning plaudits from the local mayor, and even moving the stock market!

The predator – believed to be a bull shark – popped up in an artificial waterway in the port city of Busan on South Korea's southeast coast this month.

Coast guard boats tried to guide the animal back to the sea by spraying water on it, but the shark – affectionately nicknamed "Bukhangi" by fans – did not budge.

While authorities are working on their next move, the 11.5-foot visitor and the crowds it has drawn have provided an unexpected boon to the local economy.

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Shark-shaped ice cream bar sales have jumped nearly 30% at nearby convenience stores.

Busan's Mayor Chun Jae-soo has thanked the shark for publicity that would otherwise have cost "trillions."

In tribute to its contributions, Bukhangi was elected an honorary public relations ambassador for the city. He got a stunning 91% of the vote!

The city isn't the only one cashing in thanks to the big fish – shares in The Pinkfong Company, the studio behind the viral Baby Shark song, briefly surged more than 7%.

Bull sharks are usually found in subtropical and tropical waters. According to Kim Jin-koo, a professor of global fisheries at Pukyong National University, it's "not common at all" for sharks to venture into South Korean waters.

"As water temperatures around South Korea have risen, it appears to have moved closer to the country's coast," Kim said.

A flood of false rumors has followed the fish's fame.

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A few days after the shark's appearance, authorities said that a second fish had been spotted in the area.

This prompted some social media users to suggest it was Bukhangi's child and share AI-generated images purporting to show the pair.

An official at Busan's park policy division told AFP that no additional sharks have been spotted since Bukhangi's appearance.They added that authorities are going to attempt to move the shark again on Friday.

This isn't the first odd animal to become a celebrity in South Korea. The most notable unlikely animal star is Neukgu, a young wolf that escaped from a zoo in April. He was on the lam for nine days before being recaptured.