A record-breaking heatwave has brought the professional baseball regular season to a halt. Following cancellations on July 5 and 6, the KBO has decided to cancel all 15 games scheduled from July 7 to 9 at five stadiums nationwide. The cumulative number of cancelled games this season due to the heatwave has now reached 30. It is the first time in KBO history that the entire league has been suspended due to a heatwave.

The KBO, along with the general managers of all 10 clubs and Secretary-General Jang Dong-chul of the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association, held an emergency executive committee meeting on July 6 at the Baseball Hall in Dogok-dong, Seoul, and decided on additional cancellations, placing the safety of spectators and players as the top priority. Over the weekend, each club and the KBO will prepare detailed countermeasures and facility reinforcement plans before resuming the league on July 11.

Game start times will also be changed. The existing weekday start time of 6:30 PM and weekend start time of 6:00 PM will be unified to 7:00 PM for both weekdays and weekends for the time being. However, games at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome may start at 7:00 PM on weekdays, 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 2:00 PM on Sundays, depending on broadcast scheduling. The KBO has also introduced a new 'cooling time' system to protect players and spectators.

The heatwave has already taken a toll on both spectators and players. During a game between the SSG Landers and the LG Twins at Incheon SSG Landers Field on July 4, 25 spectators reported symptoms of heat-related illness and received treatment, with two of them being transported to the hospital. In particular, a 23-year-old spectator surnamed Lee collapsed during the bottom of the eighth inning due to dizziness and loss of consciousness but recovered thanks to prompt medical attention and was discharged from the hospital on July 6. Medical staff explained that the cause of Lee's fainting was a combination of dehydration, low blood pressure, and prolonged standing while cheering, all exacerbated by the heatwave. Lee expressed gratitude for the swift medical treatment and stated that he hopes both fans and players can stay safe during the hot summer weather.

Players were not exempt from the dangers of the heatwave either. At Busan's Sajik Baseball Stadium, the risk of heat-related illness increased as players reported experiencing nausea and dizziness during games. Doosan Bears catcher Yoon Jun-ho said the heat was so intense during a game that he felt mentally disoriented. The KBO has established a policy allowing games to be cancelled on the day of play if a heatwave advisory (or severe warning) is in effect.