Video

[Anchor]

Following the total cancellation of today (August 6) and tomorrow's games due to extreme heat, the KBO has decided to suspend all league schedules through this weekend. The preemptive decision was made in response to ongoing heat wave forecasts, and the league is also considering introducing a dedicated "heat wave break" starting next year.

Reporter Bae Jeonghun has the details.

[Reporter]

Amid scorching heat, all evening games were canceled, leaving players to train instead as sweat drips down the backs of their necks.

Portable fans and a sip of cool water offer little relief against blazing temperatures approaching 40°C (104°F).

[Choi Min-seok / Doosan Pitcher: Even just coming out for a simple game of catch, you sweat so much. It definitely feels a lot harder than usual.]

Holding an emergency executive committee meeting today, the KBO decided to cancel all 15 games of the three-game weekend series scheduled starting tomorrow.

[Park Geun-chan / KBO Secretary General: The heat wave is expected to continue through the weekend, and to adequately prepare for such conditions, we decided to take a 'heat wave break' through this weekend...]

Changes are also on the horizon for league operations when games resume next week.

For outdoor stadiums excluding the Gocheok Sky Dome, game start times will be uniformly delayed to 7:00 PM. In addition, 4-minute cooling breaks will be made mandatory after the end of the 3rd and 7th innings, as well as after the 9th inning if extra innings are played.

Beyond canceling games under severe heat advisories, the league will also allow for more flexible game cancellations taking perceived temperatures into account.

Furthermore, the KBO plans to actively review measures to operate a "heat wave break" during peak periods of intense heat starting next year.

(Photo & Video Coverage: Choi Ho-jun | Video Editing: Park Gi-deok)