Record Heat Cancels Baseball Games: Samsung-Lotte and Kia-NC Matches Called Off

Record-breaking heat has forced the cancellation of professional baseball games in South Korea. The Samsung Lions vs. Lotte Giants game in Busan and the KIA Tigers vs. NC Dinos game in Changwon, both scheduled for the evening of August 1st, were called off due to extreme temperatures.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has regulations in place to ensure player and spectator safety. According to KBO rules, games can be canceled if the daily high temperature is forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days, triggering a heatwave warning. Additionally, the KBO's Competition Director can decide to cancel a game if warnings for high winds, heatwaves, fog, fine dust, or yellow dust are issued at the time of the game.

The Korea Meteorological Administration maintained a severe heatwave advisory for the Changwon region on July 30th. Daytime temperatures in Busan were forecast to reach 39 degrees Celsius on August 1st. Most other regions across the country were also expected to experience peak perceived temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius.

The KBO stated that it would continuously monitor weather conditions in the regions where games are scheduled, prioritizing the safety of fans and players. For games played outside the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the league's only indoor stadium, the KBO's Competition Director and team officials can agree to postpone the start time by up to one hour.