Lead

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) canceled all 10 professional baseball games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday evenings, citing extreme heat that has swept across South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The five games set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and five more at the same time Thursday will not be played as scheduled, the KBO announced, as it considers changes to rules governing games played in severe heat. The affected games were to take place in Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan.

The move follows the cancellation of two games on Tuesday and three over the weekend, as the nation confronts one of its worst heat waves in recent memory.

Coverage comparison

Yonhap News Agency reported the cancellations in two separate dispatches. The first, published Monday, detailed the Tuesday cancellations of games between the NC Dinos and Doosan Bears in Seoul and the KT Wiz and Kia Tigers in Gwangju, both cities placed under the highest-level serious heat wave warning by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The second, published Tuesday, announced the broader cancellation of all games over the next two evenings and provided additional details on fan injuries and KBO deliberations.

Both reports attributed the cancellations to the KMA's serious heat wave warning, and both emphasized the KBO's decision-making process under the heat advisory system.

Key claims

  • The KBO canceled all 10 games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with games set for Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan.
  • Two games in Seoul and Gwangju were canceled Tuesday after both cities were issued the highest-level serious heat wave warning by the Korea Meteorological Administration. A serious heat wave warning is issued when apparent temperatures are projected to hit at least 38°C, or when daily maximums reach 39°C or above, in areas where the highest perceived temperature has been 35°C or higher for two or more consecutive days.
  • Three other games Tuesday proceeded in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan. Daegu saw a record high temperature of 40.9°C on Sunday. Scorching conditions also wiped out three KBO games over the weekend—two in Changwon and one in Busan.
  • During the game in Incheon between the LG Twins and the SSG Landers, 25 fans were treated for symptoms of heat-related illnesses. According to the home team Landers, one male fan lost consciousness after complaining of dizziness but was later taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition following CPR. The game was delayed by nine minutes.
  • The KBO will hold an emergency executive board meeting to discuss new rules regarding games in severe heat, according to Yonhap.

Perspectives

Korea Baseball Organization

The league has taken a cautious approach, canceling games in cities under the most severe heat advisories while reserving the right to delay starts by up to one hour in less affected areas. The KBO announced it would hold an emergency executive board meeting to consider changes to rules for games played in extreme heat.

Korea Meteorological Administration

The KMA issued the highest-level serious heat wave warning for Seoul and Gwangju, prompting the cancellations. The warning system is triggered when perceived temperatures reach 38°C or more, or when daily maximums hit 39°C or higher after two consecutive days of 35°C perceived temperatures.

SSG Landers

The home team reported that 25 fans received treatment for heat-related symptoms during the Incheon game, including one man who collapsed and required CPR before being transported to a hospital in stable condition.