South Korea Fines Google and Apple $47.6 Million

The Korea Media and Communications Commission fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million) on Wednesday for abusing their app store dominance. The regulator determined that both companies violated a 2021 law by forcing local developers to use proprietary in-app payment systems through high commissions and restrictions on third-party alternatives.

Google received a fine of 42.9 billion won, while Apple was fined 20.8 billion won. Both companies were penalized for unfairly delaying app reviews without providing clear explanations. Apple faced additional sanctions for charging South Korean developers higher commissions than overseas developers between 2015 and 2023 by calculating fees based on tax-inclusive prices.

The commission ordered both firms to allow external payment links and improve their review procedures. Apple stated it "respectfully" disagrees with the decision, maintaining that its practices comply with local law and protect users from fraud. Google did not immediately respond to the ruling.