'What's the difference of 1~2℃?' KBO, relying on Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts, ultimately halted due to a spectator cardiac arrest.

*This content was translated by AI.

After wavering amid record-breaking heatwaves, Korean professional baseball finally came to a standstill only after experiencing the dizzying incident of a spectator suffering cardiac arrest.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced on the 5th that it had canceled all KBO League and Futures League games scheduled for the 5th and 6th. It also plans to hold an emergency executive committee meeting on the 6th to discuss comprehensive measures related to heatwaves.

This emergency executive committee, attended by team managers and officials from the Professional Baseball Players Association, will re-examine future league operation policies and safety measures regarding heatwaves from scratch, prioritizing the safety of spectators and players.

The incident that occurred during the match between Incheon SSG Landers and LG Twins on the previous day (the 4th) was decisive. A 25-year-old male spectator lost consciousness and collapsed ahead of the top of the ninth inning. According to SSG, An Jeon-yo-won (Team Lead) who arrived at the scene confirmed that the patient was unconscious and immediately secured an airway while calling 119.

When the spectator suffered cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed for about 20 seconds on-site, followed by a single electric shock using an automated external defibrillator (AED) that arrived shortly after. Fortunately, the spectator regained consciousness and was transferred to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Another spectator also fainted while exiting the stadium after the game ended.

This moment marked when concerns over game operations during heatwaves became reality. The Incheon SSG-LG match on the 4th proceeded as scheduled in accordance with the KBO's heatwave response criteria presented prior to the game. Given that weather conditions vary by region and cancellations carry significant ripple effects, the KBO's intention to establish objective standards based on authoritative Korea Meteorological Administration special warnings was understandable.

However, this case demonstrated that relying solely on weather warnings by administrative districts has limitations in assessing actual risks at individual baseball stadiums. According to the KBO's published criteria, games could be canceled if a heatwave major warning was issued for the region. The newly introduced heatwave major warning this June takes effect when the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to reach 38℃ or the daily maximum air temperature reaches 39℃ or higher.

However, the highest temperature in the area where Incheon SSG Landers Field is located was 36.3℃, and the highest apparent temperature was 37.2℃, falling slightly short of the criteria. While game operations were technically permissible based on numbers, it would be difficult to consider the actual stadium environment safe.

While 37℃ and 38℃ may represent different stages under regulations, the burden on the human body does not suddenly change at that threshold. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), when apparent temperature reaches 38℃, overall mortality risk and cardiovascular disease mortality risk increase significantly.

Korea Meteorological Administration data do not necessarily reflect conditions inside the stadium. Air temperatures can vary by 1~2℃ depending on observation points and surrounding environments. Even in Incheon alone, daytime maximum temperatures are relatively lower than inland areas due to the influence of the West Sea, yet it is a region where heat does not dissipate easily even at night. In fact, on the 4th, temperatures near Incheon SSG Landers Field did not drop below 33℃ until 9 p.m.

Moreover, players and spectators are structurally more vulnerable to heat. Players are exposed to ground radiant heat for extended periods from pre-game training onward, while spectators remain on scorching concrete stands for over three hours. This is why a more systematic judgment standard is needed.

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), utilized by the Professional Tennis Association (ATP), is a noteworthy indicator. Unlike Korea Meteorological Administration apparent temperature, which represents perceived heat as air temperature based on observed and forecasted temperatures and humidity, WBGT reflects not only temperature but also humidity, radiant heat, and wind. Starting from the 2026 season, the ATP has applied regulations to suspend matches when WBGT exceeds 32.2℃ across all tours.

Overseas professional baseball leagues also handle heatwaves in diverse ways. Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan have resolved the issue with dome stadiums. MLB teams in home cities known for extreme heat, such as Texas and Arizona, have long had dome stadiums ready. Similarly, Japan has 6 dome stadiums compared to the U.S.'s 7.

Additionally, NPB has postponed most games to afternoon hours, eliminating situations where players would suffer from heatwaves altogether. The same applies to Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), where most games are held at night. Even in the United States, where extreme temperatures have intensified due to recent climate anomalies, minor league day games are being moved to evenings, and water stations are being added to stadiums as part of adaptive measures.

However, converting all KBO League stadiums to domes immediately is not feasible. Nevertheless, it may be worth considering utilizing Korea Meteorological Administration special warnings as pre-game risk assessment data and directly measuring WBGT on the field and in the stands on days when heatwaves are expected before making final decisions.

Heatwaves cannot be viewed merely as exceptional situations occurring a few days each year. According to a climate change report published by the Korea Meteorological Administration last year, the number of heatwave days increased from 13.3 days in the 2010s to 16.9 days in the 2020s, while tropical night days rose from 19.7 days in the 2010s to 28 days in the 2020s. With the frequency and duration of heatwaves increasing year by year, they must now be classified as variables requiring annual preparedness, necessitating systematic response measures.

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*This content was translated by AI.