A record heat wave has gripped the Korean Peninsula, prompting urgent measures in professional sports. With temperatures feeling like 104 degrees Fahrenheit, major outdoor sports such as baseball, soccer, and golf are implementing special protocols to ensure the safety of players and fans.
The KBO League has been hit hardest by the summer heat. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) held an emergency meeting on the morning of August 5 and canceled all KBO and Futures League games scheduled for August 5 and 6. This marks the first time in KBO history that league games have been suspended for two consecutive days due to extreme heat.
This decision follows a concerning incident the previous day at Incheon’s SSG Landers Field, where 25 cases of suspected heat-related illnesses were reported due to the hot and humid weather. During the eighth inning of a game between the LG Twins and SSG Landers, a male spectator in his 20s lost consciousness and collapsed. Emergency personnel performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive him before he was transported to a hospital.
With this suspension, the total number of KBO League games canceled this season due to the heat has risen to 15. The KBO plans to hold an emergency executive committee meeting on August 6 with the general managers of all 10 teams and representatives from the players' association to establish comprehensive safety measures related to the heat.
In the K League, there have been no game cancellations due to the heat so far, but various measures are in place to prevent heat-related illnesses among players. The Korea Professional Football League has been implementing 'cooling breaks' during matches since June, allowing for 90 seconds to 3 minutes of hydration breaks in each half when temperatures exceed 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Additionally, four watering sessions are conducted to lower the ground temperature, and kickoff times for both K League 1 and K League 2 matches are generally scheduled for after 7 p.m. during the summer.
The league is also focusing on safety management by applying heat regulations to decisions regarding game cancellations or delays due to inclement weather. Furthermore, safety campaign videos related to the heat are being broadcast on electronic billboards at all summer matches to protect spectators.
Professional golf, which requires players to spend extended periods outdoors, is also taking precautions against the heat. The KLPGA Tour has established guidelines that issue a 'warning' when the maximum perceived temperature is expected to exceed 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) for two consecutive days, and a 'warning' when it exceeds 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
During tournaments, organizers continuously inform spectators about heat illness prevention measures via electronic billboards and have set up shaded areas, water stations, and cooling devices throughout the course. There are also regulations in place allowing for the cancellation of events in the event of disasters such as extreme heat.
Both men's and women's professional golf tours are taking time off during the hottest part of summer. The KLPGA Tour completed its first half of the season in mid-July and took a break for over two weeks before resuming on July 30. The KPGA Tour also finished its first half at the end of June and will resume the season on August 20 after a month and a half summer break, prioritizing player safety amid the heat.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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