While sharks have always been present in South Korea’s waters, thanks to climate changes and other reasons, they have started to swim closer to human-populated areas. This includes the fierce great white – widely regarded as one of the deadliest animals on the planet.
However, the number of attacks on humans is quite rare in South Korea, as humans are not a good food source for sharks. Bites tend to be exploratory or due to a case of mistaken identity, not as a result of predation or malice.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in South Korea
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Blackspotted Catshark | 1.5-1.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Great White Shark |
11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | ||
| Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |
Whale Shark |
18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in South Korea?
So far, there have been only eight shark attacks in South Korea. However, six of those have been fatal, with the most recent one in 2010 on US student Jaylee Pierce who survived the bite with two minor lacerations.
2. Are there great white sharks in South Korea?
Great white sharks have been seen around South Korea. Still, they nowadays are slightly more familiar with dead great whites washing up on shore or fishers catching them at regular intervals.
