Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 3 hrs ago
South Korea fines Google and Apple 63.7 billion won over app practices
South Korea fined Google and Apple 63.7 billion won over their app store practices.
The country’s media and telecommunications regulator said the companies used their market power to push South Korean developers toward their own payment systems.
Developers could use other payment options, the regulator said, but faced a 26% commission and lacked some features available through the companies’ systems.
The regulator also said app reviews were sometimes delayed without clear explanations, and accused Apple of charging local developers higher commissions than developers elsewhere from 2015 to January 2023.
South Korea has enforced a 2021 law against app stores requiring developers to use specific payment systems, making the fines part of its scrutiny of foreign tech companies.
The companies must allow external payment links and improve app reviews, but neither had immediately responded to requests for comment.
South Korea fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million) over their app store practices.
The Korea Media and Communications Commission said the companies pushed local developers to use their payment systems and unfairly delayed app reviews.
Google was fined 42.9 billion won ($32 million), and Apple was fined 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million).
The commission ordered both companies to allow external payment links in apps and improve their app review procedures.
Google and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Who
- Google and Apple.
- What
- South Korea fined them a combined 63.7 billion won over app store practices and ordered changes to their payment and review procedures.
- When
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The regulator said the companies pushed developers toward their own payment systems and unfairly delayed app reviews.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea enforced a law prohibiting app market operators from requiring users to use their own in-app payment systems.
The commission accused Apple of charging South Korean developers higher commissions than developers elsewhere.
South Korea fined Google and Apple and ordered them to allow external payment links and improve app review procedures.
- Combined fine
- 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million)
- Google fine
- 42.9 billion won ($32 million)
- Apple fine
- 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million)
- Third-party in-app payment commission
- 26%
- Regulator
- Korea Media and Communications Commission