South Korea has fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won (€42.7m) for pushing app developers toward 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.
The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) announced the fines on Wednesday after an investigation that began in August 2022, ordering Google to pay 42.9 billion won (€28.7m) and Apple 20.8 billion won (€13.9m). It found both companies had broken a 2021 law, the first of its kind in the world, that stops app store operators from forcing developers to use a specific payment system.
On paper, Google and Apple allowed developers to use other payment systems in their apps, the commission said. In practice, they charged a 26% commission on those payments, barely below the 30% they take on their own systems, withheld some features and blocked payments through external websites altogether, leaving developers with little real choice. The regulator also found the companies held up app reviews without properly explaining why or saying when they would restart. Apple was separately found to have charged South Korean developers more than those elsewhere between 2015 and January 2023, calculating its commission on prices that included value-added tax.
Both companies must now let South Korean developers place links to outside payment options in their apps and improve their review practices. They have one month to submit plans and three months to make the changes. Commission chair Kim Jong-cheol said he hoped the sanctions would bring real change to the market, reiterating that South Korean law would be applied equally to domestic and foreign companies. Google and Apple have not yet reacted publicly to the decision.
The case echoes battles in the EU, where the Digital Markets Act prohibits gatekeepers from stopping developers directing users to cheaper deals. Apple was fined €500 million by the European Commission in April 2025 for blocking such steering, a decision it has appealed, and in August announced new EU terms, effective 1 October, cutting its standard commission on in-app purchases to 26% from 30% and setting a 15% rate when developers send users elsewhere to complete a purchase. Google was fined €890 million by Brussels in July, including €430 million for restricting developers on Google Play from pointing users to cheaper purchase options. It has since changed some of its fees and terms on Google Play, which the Commission is still assessing, and has appealed the fines.
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Fines on Google and Apple for app store practices by region (€ million)
€ million
Google's EU fine includes €430 million for blocking steering, plus other violations. Source: Korea Media and Communications Commission (SK); European Commission (EU)
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Analysis
Why This Matters
The fines are the latest in a broadening global crackdown on app store commissions and steering rules, with parallel cases proceeding under the EU's Digital Markets Act.
The decision forces concrete changes: South Korean developers will be able to link to outside payment options, potentially reducing the effective cut app stores take and, over time, prices for consumers.
South Korea's 2021 law was the world's first of its kind, and its enforcement tests whether such legislation can genuinely change dominant platforms' behaviour, offering a model other regulators may watch.
Background
South Korea's 2021 law made it the first country to bar app store operators from forcing developers to use a specific payment system. Since then, app store commissions and steering restrictions have come under scrutiny around the world, most prominently in the EU, where the Digital Markets Act requires the biggest online platforms to allow developers to direct users to cheaper deals. Regulators in both jurisdictions have now fined Google and Apple over similar practices, and both companies have appealed the EU penalties while adjusting some of their fees and terms.
Key Perspectives
KMCC chair Kim Jong-cheol: said he hoped the sanctions would bring real change to the market, reiterating that South Korean law would be applied equally to domestic and foreign companies.
Apple: has appealed the European Commission's €500 million DMA fine, and in August announced new EU terms cutting its standard commission on in-app purchases to 26% from 30%, with a 15% rate when developers send users elsewhere to complete a purchase.
Google: has appealed the €890 million in EU fines and changed some of its fees and terms on Google Play, which the Commission is still assessing.
What to Watch
Whether Google and Apple submit corrective plans within the one-month deadline and implement the required changes within three months.
Whether the companies appeal the Korean fines, and how the European Commission's assessment of Google's revised Google Play terms proceeds.
Whether the 26% commission on third-party payments in South Korea changes, since the regulator found it left developers with little real choice.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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SupportedSouth Korea fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won (€42.7 million) for steering developers toward their payment systems and holding up app reviews.Euronews: “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”
SupportedGoogle was fined 42.9 billion won and Apple 20.8 billion won.Euronews: “The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) fined Google 42.9 billion won (€28.7m) and Apple 20.8 billion won (€13.9m)”
SupportedThe investigation began in August 2022.Euronews: “after an investigation that began back in August 2022.”
SupportedThe companies broke a 2021 law barring app store operators from requiring developers to use a specific payment system; South Korea was the first country to put the rule into force.Euronews: “It found that both firms had broken a 2021 law that stops app store operators from making developers use a specific payment system, a rule that South Korea was the first country in the world to put into force.”
SupportedThe companies charged a 26% commission on alternative in-app payment systems, compared with 30% on their own systems.Euronews: “they charged a 26% commission on those payments, only slightly below the 30% they charge for their own systems”
SupportedThe companies held up app reviews without properly explaining why or saying when reviews would restart.Euronews: “the companies held up app reviews without properly explaining the reasons to developers, or saying when the reviews would restart.”
SupportedApple charged South Korean developers more than developers elsewhere between 2015 and January 2023 by calculating commissions on prices that included VAT.Euronews: “Apple was also found to have charged South Korean developers more than those elsewhere between 2015 and January 2023, as it calculated its commission on prices that included value-added tax.”
SupportedBoth companies must let South Korean developers link to outside payment options and improve app reviews; they have one month to submit plans and three months to make the changes.Euronews: “They have one month to submit plans and three months to make the changes.”
SupportedCommission chair Kim Jong-cheol said he hoped the sanctions would bring real change and reiterated that South Korean law would apply equally to domestic and foreign companies.Euronews: “Commission chair Kim Jong-cheol said he hoped the sanctions would bring real change to the market, reiterating that South Korean law would be applied equally to domestic and foreign companies.”
SupportedApple was fined €500 million by the European Commission in April 2025 for blocking steering, and it appealed the decision.Euronews: “In April 2025, Apple was fined €500 million by the European Commission under the DMA for blocking such steering on its app store, a decision it has appealed.”
SupportedGoogle was fined €890 million by Brussels in July, including €430 million for restricting developers from directing Google Play users to cheaper purchase options.Euronews: “Google was fined €890 million by Brussels in July, including €430 million for restricting developers on Google Play from pointing users to cheaper purchase options.”
SupportedGoogle changed some Google Play fees and terms; the European Commission is still assessing them, and Google appealed the fines.Euronews: “It has since changed some of its fees and terms on Google Play, which the Commission is still assessing, and has appealed the fines.”
