A shark that became a viral sensation after getting stuck in a South Korean canal for a month has returned just hours after being coaxed out to sea.

Nicknamed Bukang-i by fans, the 3-metre-long (9.8-foot) female dusky shark was first spotted in the waterway on 18 September.

On Wednesday, workers used nets fixed to floating pontoons to guide the shark free, but it dived beneath a net and returned to the canal in Busan overnight, authorities said.

“The shark is now between the outer net and an inner net installed 30 to 40 metres ... further inside the canal,” an oceans ministry official told AFP.

Shark nicknamed Bukang-i returns to sea off South Korea

After it got trapped in September, officials initially opted to wait for the shark to leave on its own – but amid growing concerns for its wellbeing they took a more proactive approach.…