Record heat forces KBO to extend midseason break through weekend
South Korea's extreme heat wave has halted professional baseball as the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) suspends all games from August 7 to 9 at five stadiums across the nation. This decision, made in an emergency meeting involving all 10 teams and the players' association, follows cancellations on Wednesday and Thursday due to soaring temperatures.
The league now anticipates a total of 30 postponed games this season. To safeguard players and fans, the KBO will introduce mandatory "cooling breaks" with extended time between innings for hydration and recovery. Game start times will be delayed to avoid the peak heat, with all weekday and weekend matches now commencing at 7 pm, except at Seoul's indoor Gocheok Sky Dome.
Minor league games have also been affected, with all scheduled matches halted until further notice. Starting August 11, evening games will begin at 7 pm, while teams may opt for earlier morning starts to evade the hottest part of the day. The KBO has also allowed for potential game shortening if heat conditions persist.
Written by urgent.news from The Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
