(2nd LD) Communications watchdog fines Google, Apple over in-app payment policies

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's broadcasting and telecommunications reg...

Yonhap NewsKim Boram2026-10-28 17:45查看原文 ↗

Kim Jong-cheol, chair of the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), speaks during a plenary meeting at the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Oct. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

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SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator said Wednesday it will impose a combined 63.7 billion won (US$45 million) worth of fines on Google and Apple for restricting app developers' payment options through their in-app policies.

The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) approved fines of 42.9 billion won for Google and 20.81 billion won for Apple for violating the Telecommunications Business Act over their app store payment policies.

The commission said it will also issue corrective orders but will not file criminal complaints against the two U.S. companies.

Kim Jong-cheol, chair of the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), speaks during a plenary meeting at the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Oct. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

The KMCC said Google and Apple had abused their dominant positions by forcing app developers to use specific payment methods and imposed unfavorable conditions on third-party payment options.

The decision comes about three years after South Korea's regulator first notified Google and Apple of the alleged violations in October 2023.

The KMCC ordered the two companies to allow app developers to offer alternative payment methods, including external payment links within apps, and to adjust fees for third-party payment systems to reasonable levels.

Google was ordered to revise its user experience guidelines for third-party payments, while Apple was told to scrap its requirement for developers to submit separate apps when offering alternative payment options.

"A fair and sustainable app market ecosystem can be achieved through a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between app market operators and developers," KMCC Chairman Kim Jong-cheol said.

The two companies must submit compliance plans within one month of receiving the corrective orders and implement the required changes within three months.

In response, Google expressed regret, saying the commission had not taken into account its recent policy changes aimed at giving app developers more payment options and reducing commission fees.

In March, Google announced plans to allow external payment options and lower service fees.

Apple also said it does not agree with the KMCC's decision, noting that more than 90 percent of revenue generated through its App Store ecosystem had returned to developers last year.

"Apple believes that the changes it has implemented to date comply with the Telecommunications Business Act," the company said. "We are reviewing our next steps based on Korean law."

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ejkim@yna.co.kr (END)

(2nd LD) Communications watchdog fines Google, Apple over in-app payment policies

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（注意：最后两段补充了苹果公司的回应）

首尔，10 月 28 日（韩联社）——韩国广播和电信监管机构周三表示，将对谷歌和苹果公司处以总计 637 亿韩元（4500 万美元）的罚款，原因是这两家公司通过其应用内政策限制了应用程序开发者的支付选项。

韩国媒体与通信委员会（KMCC）批准对谷歌处以 429 亿韩元的罚款，对苹果处以 208.1 亿韩元的罚款，原因是它们在应用商店支付政策方面违反了《电信业务法》。

委员会表示，还将发布整改令，但不会对这两家美国公司提起刑事诉讼。

2026年10月28日，韩国媒体传播委员会（KMCC）委员长金钟哲在首尔以南果川市政府大楼举行的全体会议上发表讲话。（韩联社）

KMCC表示，谷歌和苹果滥用其市场支配地位，强迫应用程序开发者使用特定的支付方式，并对第三方支付选项施加不利条件。

这项决定是在韩国监管机构于 2023 年 10 月首次通知谷歌和苹果公司涉嫌违规行为约三年后做出的。

KMCC责令这两家公司允许应用程序开发者提供替代支付方式，包括应用程序内的外部支付链接，并将第三方支付系统的费用调整到合理水平。