A thermometer shows the ground temperature at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul reaching 50°C (122°F) on Aug. 5, 2026, as an intense heat wave grips Korea. (Yonhap)
South Korea’s unprecedented heat wave has brought professional baseball to a standstill, with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) extending its weather-related shutdown through the weekend.The KBO announced Thursday that all 15 games scheduled from Friday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 9, at five ballparks nationwide have been canceled following an emergency meeting with representatives from all 10 clubs and the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association. The league is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Aug. 11.The league had already called off all games on Wednesday and Thursday as soaring temperatures raised concerns over the safety of players, coaches and fans. The latest decision brings the total number of games postponed due to extreme heat this season to 30.To better protect players and spectators when play resumes, the KBO will introduce mandatory “cooling breaks.” The time between innings will be extended to four minutes after the third and seventh innings, allowing additional time for hydration and recovery.The league is also pushing back game start times to avoid the hottest part of the day. Until further notice, all weekday and weekend games will begin at 7 pm, instead of the previous start times of 6:30 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends.An exception will be made for games at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, the league’s only indoor stadium, where schedules will remain largely unchanged: 7 pm on weekdays, 6 pm on Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays.“The goal is to minimize players’ and spectators’ exposure to extreme heat by starting games when temperatures and heat indices are relatively lower,” a KBO official said.The heat wave has also disrupted the Futures League, the country’s minor league. All games scheduled through Monday, Aug. 10, have been canceled. From Tuesday, Aug. 11, through the end of the month, evening games will begin at 7 pm, while teams may also agree to play at 10 am to avoid peak afternoon heat. League officials also approved the option of shortening games if extreme heat conditions persist.By Son Hyun-soo, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
