KBO cancels games amid heatwave warning
South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) has cancelled two scheduled league games after authorities issued the highest level of heatwave warning for parts of the country. The decision was taken to protect the health and safety of players, spectators and match officials as temperatures were forecast to reach 39°C.
According to the league, the severe heat warning has been in effect since Friday in the cities of Busan and Changwon, where Saturday’s games were due to be played. With dangerously high temperatures expected to continue, the KBO opted to postpone the fixtures rather than risk the well-being of everyone involved.
The two affected matches are:
• Samsung Lions vs Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan.
• KIA Tigers vs NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang.
Confirming the decision, the KBO said:
“Severe heatwave warnings have been in effect for the Changwon and Busan areas since yesterday.”
The league further explained the reason behind the postponements, stating:
“The decision was made with the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority.”
It also confirmed that both games will be rescheduled at a later date.
Under KBO regulations, a heatwave warning may be declared when daily maximum temperatures of at least 35°C are forecast to continue for two consecutive days or longer. Once such conditions exist, the league is permitted to postpone games or introduce other safety measures to minimise the impact of extreme weather.
Apart from outright cancellations, the KBO also has the option of delaying outdoor matches by up to one hour. Such decisions are made after consultations between the league’s game operations officials and each club’s game manager. The rule applies to all outdoor stadiums across the league.
The only exception is Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul. Because it is a fully roofed stadium, games scheduled there can continue without being affected by extreme heat or other weather conditions.
The Korea Baseball Organisation has increasingly focused on player and fan welfare in recent years, especially during periods of severe summer weather. South Korea has experienced unusually high temperatures this season, prompting authorities to issue multiple heat-related warnings and advise residents to avoid prolonged outdoor activities whenever possible.
Founded in 1982, the KBO League is South Korea’s premier professional baseball competition and consists of 10 teams owned by major corporate groups. It remains the country’s most popular spectator sport, featuring a 144-game regular season that attracts millions of fans every year.
Among its most successful clubs are the KIA Tigers, who have captured 12 championships, the highest total in league history. Despite the disruption caused by the heatwave, league officials have assured fans that the postponed fixtures will be added to the schedule later in the season, with safety continuing to remain the KBO’s highest priority as extreme weather conditions persist across parts of South Korea.
