On August 4, two professional baseball games were canceled.
Not because it rained. Because of the heat.
But what counts as “hot” differs from person to person. What standard was used?
3-line summary
1. Two games in Jamsil and Gwangju were canceled on August 4 because of extreme heat.
2. The decision was based not on intuition but on the three-tier extreme-heat standard.
3. The field temperature at Jamsil was above 50°C.
It Was an Application, Not a Judgment
The Korea Meteorological Administration’s extreme-heat alerts have tiers, and the KBO has predetermined what it will do at each tier. August 4 was a day when the highest tier took effect.
So the cancellations that day were closer to an application of the rules than a judgment call.
What Happened That Day
Two games scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on August 4 were canceled: the NC Dinos vs. Doosan Bears game in Jamsil, and the KT Wiz vs. KIA Tigers game in Gwangju.
The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an extreme heat emergency warning for Seoul and Gwangju, and the KBO office decided to cancel the games at 12:45 p.m.
One number captures the conditions that day. At around 2:30 p.m., the Doosan club measured the temperature of the dirt and grass at Jamsil Baseball Stadium with its own thermometer: it was above 50°C. More precisely, all that could be said was “above 50°C,” because the thermometer only displayed up to 50°C. The actual temperature appears to have been higher.
The dugout temperature also exceeded 48°C—the space where players go to rest during the game.
Extreme Heat Has Three Tiers
It can be confusing when articles use both “extreme heat warning” and “extreme heat emergency warning.” They are different tiers.
| Tier | Standard |
|---|---|
| Extreme heat advisory | Daily high apparent temperature of 33°C or higher expected to persist for at least two days |
| Extreme heat warning | Daily high apparent temperature of 35°C or higher expected to persist for at least two days |
| Extreme heat emergency warning | In an area where an apparent temperature of 35°C has been observed for at least two days, a daily high apparent temperature of 38°C or maximum air temperature of 39°C or higher is expected |
The standard is generally based not on air temperature but on apparent temperature. Because it accounts for humidity, a humid day at the same 32°C is calculated as more dangerous. At places such as summer baseball stadiums, where moisture lingers, that difference is not small.
The highest tier, the extreme heat emergency warning, is a tier newly created this year. Extreme-heat alerts originally had two tiers—an advisory and a warning—but another tier was added.
The order in which the criteria are read is important. An emergency warning is not issued on just any day. It is issued when 38°C is expected in an area where apparent temperatures of 35°C have already continued for at least two days. It reflects the fact that heat has accumulated.
What Does the KBO Do at Each Tier?
Game-operation standards have been structured accordingly.
When an extreme heat warning or higher is in effect, the start of a game may be delayed by up to one hour, taking the home club’s opinion into account. The idea is to begin after the sun has lowered, even if only a little.
When an extreme heat emergency warning is in effect, a game may be canceled. However, the decision must be made by 1 p.m. on the day of the game.
This “1 p.m.” deadline is the most practical part of the rule. People going to an evening game usually leave home later in the afternoon. Reaching a decision before then can prevent a wasted trip. The KBO’s 12:45 p.m. announcement on August 4 was also timed to meet this deadline.
Extreme heat warnings were also issued that day in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan. But because they were not emergency warnings, games at those three locations proceeded as scheduled. This is why some games were played and others were canceled on the same day.
It Has Been Especially Frequent This Year
Including these two games, five games have been canceled due to extreme heat during the 2026 season. Earlier, two games in Changwon and one in Busan were canceled over the weekend.
Most weather-related cancellations have traditionally been caused by rain. It is not a familiar sight to see games canceled for heat five times in one season.
Canceled games do not disappear. They are rescheduled for a later date. But regular-season schedules are tightly packed, so if postponed games accumulate, consecutive games become concentrated late in the season. The burden is greater for teams in close standings races.
What Spectators Should Know
First, cancellation decisions are announced before 1 p.m. If you plan to attend a midsummer evening game, it is better to check the club’s notice or the KBO announcement once before leaving.
Second, the game may be delayed rather than canceled. At the extreme heat warning tier, the start may be delayed by up to one hour. You might see that it has not been canceled, arrive at the usual time, and end up waiting outside for an hour.
Third, a game being played does not mean it is safe. The criteria determine whether to hold the game, not whether the stands become cool. This is especially true for outfield seats without shade.
When Another Day Like This Comes
The Jamsil and Gwangju games on August 4 were canceled at 12:45 p.m. after extreme heat emergency warnings took effect in Seoul and Gwangju. The field temperature exceeded the thermometer’s 50°C measurement limit.
Behind that decision are the three extreme-heat tiers divided at apparent temperatures of 33°C, 35°C, and 38°C, as well as the KBO’s operating standards setting delays and cancellations for each tier.
Having standards also means that, when a similar day comes again, you can know in advance what will happen. It is worth knowing for anyone heading to a baseball stadium in the height of summer.
Sources
- KBS News KBO cancels two Jamsil and Gwangju games amid extreme heat emergency warning
- Hankyoreh Jamsil Baseball Stadium grass exceeds 50°C, making measurement impossible… Seoul and Gwangju games canceled
- Republic of Korea Policy Briefing First “extreme heat emergency warning” issued since the system was established
Media reports were referenced for the circumstances of the game cancellations, KBO operating standards, and field temperature measurements, while government materials were referenced for the issuance criteria and newly established status of the extreme heat emergency warning.