As heat-related illnesses occurred one after another at professional baseball stadiums amid a nationwide heat wave advisory, the KBO took the unprecedented measure of suspending all first- and second-tier games. Earlier, all professional baseball games scheduled for the 5th and 6th were canceled.

To protect the safety of spectators and players, the KBO plans to convene an emergency executive committee meeting on the 6th, attended by team general managers and officials from the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association. At this meeting, the league plans to fundamentally review its operations and heat wave safety measures and discuss comprehensive countermeasures.

The direct catalyst for this full suspension was the SSG-LG game held on the 4th at Incheon Munhak SSG Landers Field. At the time, games in nearby areas such as Seoul and Gwangju were canceled due to heat wave warnings, but only the Incheon game went ahead as scheduled, drawing strong public criticism. The temperature inside the stadium was reportedly 37 to 38 degrees Celsius, and the turf surface temperature approached 50 degrees Celsius.

In this game, just before LG's offense in the top of the ninth inning, a male spectator in his 20s seated in the first-base stands suddenly collapsed and tumbled down the stairs. The spectator, who had gone into cardiac arrest, regained consciousness thanks to the prompt response of nearby spectators and emergency services (119), and was transported to a hospital. Even after the game ended, another spectator collapsed from a heat-related illness, and an additional 23 spectators reported minor heat-related illness symptoms, bringing the total number of patients to 25. According to the SSG club, those who collapsed were healthy young adults in their 20s who were not under the influence of alcohol.

Concerns and criticism over holding games during the heat wave had already been raised. In a game on the 31st of last month, some Lotte players were substituted due to heat-related illnesses, yet the KBO went ahead with the game, drawing criticism. Field managers also spoke out. NC manager Lee Ho-jun pointed out that the criteria for canceling first-tier and Futures League (second-tier) games differ, questioning the consistency of the regulations, and LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop had also previously pointed out the need to push back game start times during the peak summer heat.

Meanwhile, heat wave advisories and warnings are in effect across the country, including the Seoul metropolitan area, with severe heat wave warnings issued in some regions. As of 10 a.m. on the 5th, severe heat wave warnings were additionally issued for Seoul, Incheon, parts of Gyeonggi, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, eastern Gwangju, Gokseong, Suncheon, Gwangyang, and Jangseong. Of the 46 land-based weather advisory zones in the Seoul metropolitan area, 20 zones, or 43%, remain under severe heat wave warnings, while heat wave warnings have been issued for the remaining 26 zones.