{
  "id": 16907948,
  "title": "South Korea fines Google, Apple for pushing app developers onto their payment systems",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/south-korea-fines-google-apple-for-pushing-app-developers-onto-their",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-28T14:07:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews Business",
    "slug": "euronews-business",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/28/south-korea-fines-google-apple-for-pushing-app-developers-onto-their-payment-systems"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "South Korea has fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won (€42.7m), for steering app developers towards their in-house payment systems and holding up app reviews, adding to a string of penalties the US tech giants face over app store rules, including in the EU.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(URGENT) Communications watchdog fines Google, Apple over in-app payment policies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/urgent-communications-watchdog-fines-google-apple-over-in-app-payment",
        "published": "2026-10-28T07:33:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea fines Google, Apple combined $47.6 mil. over in-app payment practices",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/korea-fines-google-apple-combined-47-6-mil-over-in-app-payment",
        "published": "2026-10-28T09:02:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea media commission fines Google and Apple over app payment systems",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/south-korea-media-commission-fines-google-and-apple-over-app-payment",
        "published": "2026-10-28T10:46:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Google, Apple hit with $61m fine in South Korea’s app store crackdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/google-apple-hit-with-61m-fine-in-south-koreas-app-store-crackdown",
        "published": "2026-10-28T12:35:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "South Korea becomes the latest to fine Apple and Google millions over their App Stores",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/south-korea-becomes-the-latest-to-fine-apple-and-google-millions-over",
        "published": "2026-10-28T12:35:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}