South Korea’s communications watchdog fines Google and Apple a combined $47.6 million over alleged anti-competitive practices in app store payment systems. Regulators say the companies abused their dominance by forcing local developers to use their own in-app payment methods and by unfairly delaying app reviews.
The enforcement is presented as the first action under South Korea’s 2021 law amendments that prohibit such “in-app payment” practices. Several outlets describe the specific reasoning from the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), including claims that third-party payment options were restricted through conditions and a commission structure, and that the review process lacked clear explanations when delays occurred.
Across coverage, the core facts are consistent: the penalties, the target companies, and the regulator’s main allegations—self-preferencing app payment systems and process delays. Differences are mainly in how much detail each outlet includes, particularly around the won amounts, the corrective orders, and the description of what the commission considered unreasonable conditions for third-party payments.
