Apple And Google Fined In South Korea Over App Store Violations

South Korea's communications regulator, the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), has determined that both Apple and Google violated the country's Telecommunications Business Act. The two companies were fined KRW 42.9 billion ($32 million) for Google and KRW 20.81 billion ($15.6 million) for Apple. The KMCC found that they forced in-app payment methods, imposed a 26 percent commission for third-party payments, and prohibited external payments. They also delayed app reviews without clear reasons and failed to respond to inquiries about the delays. Additionally, Apple was found to compute commissions differently for South Korean and overseas developers, basing the cut on VAT-inclusive prices for Korean developers but pre-VAT prices for foreign developers. The regulator has ordered the companies to accept external payments and revise their app review procedures, and Apple must also prevent discrimination between domestic and overseas app developers. Both companies already allow external payments in the US and the EU.

(Source：Engadget)