South Korean regulators have finalized fines against Google and Apple totaling ₩63.7 billion, equivalent to approximately $48 million. The Korea Media and Communications Commission imposed these penalties following an investigation into the companies' in-app payment practices.
Google faces the larger portion of the fine at ₩42.9 billion, while Apple is required to pay ₩20.8 billion. These figures represent an adjustment from preliminary estimates issued in October 2023, which had set the amounts at ₩47.5 billion for Google and ₩20.5 billion for Apple.
The investigation, which began in August 2022, centered on allegations that both tech giants forced app developers to use their proprietary payment systems. Authorities found that the companies charged effective fees of approximately 26% on third-party payment options, compared to their standard 30% commission.
The regulatory action is based on a 2021 amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act, which came into effect in March 2022. The case involved prolonged discussions regarding corrective measures, specifically concerning anti-steering obligations that restrict developers from directing users to alternative payment methods.
