South Korea fines Google, Apple for pushing app developers onto their payment systems

South Korea's media and telecommunications regulator has fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won (€42.7m) for exploiting their dominance in app stores. Google was fined 42.9 billion won (€28.7m) and Apple 20.8 billion won (€13.9m). The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) found that both companies had broken a 2021 law that prohibits app stores from forcing developers to use specific payment systems.

While Google and Apple allow developers to use alternative payment systems, they charge a 26% commission on those payments, only slightly lower than their 30% commission for their own systems. The regulator also discovered that the companies delayed app reviews without providing clear reasons or timelines. Apple was found to have charged South Korean developers more than those in other regions due to its commission calculation method.

Both companies must now permit developers to include links to external payment options in their apps and improve their review processes. They have one month to submit plans and three months to implement the changes. The fines follow similar penalties in the EU, where Google and Apple have been fined for restricting developers from directing users to cheaper purchase options.