The “Gangnam Style” singer’s Summer Swag show in Busan, South Korea, caused an unexpected interruption at a nearby professional baseball game. Smoke from the concert’s fireworks display drifted into Sajik Baseball Stadium, forcing umpires to stop the match for 19 minutes. The incident took place on August 15 during a KBO League game between the NC Dinos and the Lotte Giants.
Smoke from Psy Concert Fills Baseball Stadium
The baseball game was moving along normally until the bottom of the sixth inning. Around 8:42 PM, thick smoke started to cover the field at Sajik Baseball Stadium. The smoke came from fireworks set off at Psy’s Summer Swag concert, which was happening at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The two venues are only about a 10-minute walk from each other.
The fireworks display went on for roughly 10 minutes. As the show continued, the smoke grew heavier and drifted toward the baseball stadium. The haze became so thick that players could not see well enough to track fly balls. The umpires had no choice but to stop the game for safety reasons.
The stadium scoreboard showed a message telling fans that the game was paused because of fireworks smoke from a nearby concert. The smoke finally started to clear, and play resumed at 9:01 PM. The whole interruption lasted about 19 minutes.
Players Shaken by Loud Firework Explosions
The fireworks did not just create a smoke problem. The loud noise also affected the players. NC Dinos manager Lee Ho-jun spoke about what happened to his player Park Minwoo.
“When Minwoo was about to bat, there was a loud explosion from the fireworks. He came in extremely upset. Although the game could be briefly paused when fireworks are set off, the timing coincided with when he was preparing to swing. Players naturally get startled.”
Park Minwoo had been having a good game. He recorded two hits in five at-bats the day before. In four of those at-bats, he hit the ball to the outfield. The only time he did not reach the outfield was in the sixth inning, when the fireworks started. The loud blast happened right as he was getting ready to swing, which clearly threw him off.
Same Problem Happened Last Year Too
This was not the first time a Psy concert caused trouble for a baseball game at Sajik Stadium. A very similar incident happened on August 16 last year. During a game between the Lotte Giants and Samsung Lions, fireworks smoke from Psy’s concert at the nearby Busan Asiad Auxiliary Stadium drifted onto the field and stopped the game.
For two years in a row, professional baseball games have faced the same kind of disruption. This has led to growing frustration among baseball fans and players. Many people are asking why the concert and the baseball game are scheduled on the same day at venues so close to each other.
The 2026 KBO League schedule was officially announced on December 19, 2025. Psy’s Summer Swag tour schedule came out later, on May 29. Some critics argue that more careful planning could prevent these problems from happening again.
Other Concerts Did Not Cause Issues
It is worth noting that other big concerts have taken place at the Asiad Main Stadium without causing any problems for baseball games. BTS held their Arirang world tour concerts there on June 12 and 13 this year. The Busan One Asia Festival also took place at the venue on June 27 and 28. Neither of these events caused smoke or visibility issues at the nearby baseball stadium.
This makes the situation with Psy’s Summer Swag show stand out even more. The concert series is known for its large-scale production, which includes water cannons, fireworks, and other special effects. While these elements make the show exciting for concertgoers, they can create problems for people and events in the surrounding area.
Summer Swag’s Water Use Also Drew Criticism
Psy’s Summer Swag concerts have faced other controversies in the past. The tour series started in 2011 and has become a summer tradition in South Korea. The shows are famous for spraying huge amounts of water on the audience through water cannons.
In 2022, Psy shared that each show uses about 300 tonnes of water. This created backlash because South Korea was dealing with drought conditions at that time. People questioned whether it was responsible to use so much water when the country was facing water shortages.
Despite these concerns, Summer Swag remains one of Psy’s most popular live attractions. Fans continue to show up for the mix of music, dancing, and high-energy spectacle. However, the recent incident in Busan has brought new attention to how the show affects the surrounding community.
Baseball Game Resumes After Smoke Clears
The game eventually continued after the 19-minute delay. The NC Dinos and Lotte Giants finished their match, but the interruption clearly disrupted the flow of the game. Players had to reset their focus after the long pause. The smoke did not cause any injuries or major damage, but it did create an unfair situation for the athletes.
The Lotte Giants informed everyone in the stadium about what was happening through the scoreboard. This helped fans understand why the game had stopped. Once the smoke cleared enough for good visibility, the umpires gave the signal to restart play.
The weather on that day may have made the problem worse. Reports say it was raining during the game, which increased the humidity. The moisture in the air made the smoke hang closer to the ground and stay in the stadium longer. If the weather had been different, the smoke might have cleared more quickly.
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Fans and Critics React to the Disruption
The incident has sparked fresh debate about large concerts and their impact on nearby events. Some people feel that Psy and his team should take more responsibility for how their show affects the surrounding area. Others believe that the venues and local authorities should do a better job of coordinating schedules.
The fact that this happened for the second year in a row has made people even more upset. Many are asking why nothing has been done to prevent a repeat of the same problem. The term “Summer Swag nuisance” has even started to appear in discussions about the issue.
This is not the only time Psy’s Summer Swag tour has faced pushback. Earlier in the 2026 tour, football fans and local sports groups protested against a planned concert at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium. They worried that the large crowd and heavy equipment would damage the grass field during the active football season. The venue rental was eventually denied, and Psy had to apologize to fans and find a new location.
Residents living near other concert venues have also complained about light pollution and noise from the shows. These recurring issues have led to wider conversations about how big entertainment events should balance spectacular productions with consideration for the people and activities around them.
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