On Wednesday, South Korea announced it would fine Google and Apple a combined $47.6 million saying they unfairly exercised monopoly power in app store markets by compelling local developers to use their proprietary payment systems and unjustly delaying app reviews.
The country’s media and telecommunications regulator, the Korea Media and Communications Commission spent years in monitoring the US tech giants for allegedly violating a 2021 law that prohibits the operation to prohibit app store operators from forcing developers to use specific payment systems.
The commission further explained that it also found instances where the companies delayed app reviews without clarifying the reasons for the delay or the timeline for their resumption. It also accused Apple of charging South Korean developers higher commissions than developers elsewhere from 2015 to January 2023.
South Korea has for years conducted a rigorous review of foreign tech companies operating within its borders. It became the first country in 2021 to enforce a law prohibiting app market operators such as Google and Apple from requiring users to specifically use their own app-payment systems.
Apple said it would challenge the decision and was assessing its available options pursuant to South Korean law. It said it had partnered with third-party developers to drive innovation via its App Store.
Ruqia Shahid is a reporter specialising in science, focusing on discoveries, research developments, and technological advancements. She translates complex scientific concepts into clear, engaging stories, helping readers understand the latest innovations and their real-world impact through accurate, accessible, and insight-driven reporting.
