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South Korea’s Korea Communications Commission has concluded investigations into U.S. technology giants Google and Apple, imposing substantial fines on both companies.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that foreign media outlets published the information.
The investigation examined alleged violations of an antitrust law adopted in 2021 that prohibits forcing app developers to use designated payment systems.
According to a statement from the regulator, Google and Apple steered app developers toward using the companies’ own in-app payment systems and created artificial obstacles to payments made through external online resources.
Although the companies technically allowed third-party payment systems in apps, they charged developers a 26% commission and restricted some features available through their own systems, the report said. The commission found that these measures effectively forced developers to use the companies’ systems. It also identified cases in which app review processes were unreasonably prolonged and developers were not given adequate explanations.
Google was fined $32 million and Apple $15.5 million for violating the law. The regulator ordered both technology giants to fully enable South Korean developers to use external payment links in their apps and improve their review procedures.
