Korea warns Google, Apple of potential fines over apps marketing

The Korea Communications Commission is going to impose corrective measures and penalty surcharges for Google (GOOGL) and Apple (AAPL) on October 6, according to the result of a fact-checking investigation over unfair practices, including forcing specific payment methods of app market operators initiated August 16, 2022. The KCC reasoned that Google and Apple violated prohibited acts of the Telecommunications Business Act as the two tech giants forced specific payment methods and unfairly delayed application assessment by abusing their market positions. The KCC said: “The enforcement of specific payment methods by Google and Apple is a significant concern because it has the potential to undermine the primary goal of the amended act in September 2021, which is to promote fair competition in the app market. In addition, the KCC notified a corrective measure draft for Apple’s discriminatory charging of fees to domestic app developers. The KCC will make a final decision on up to 68 billion won penalty surcharge, including 47.5 billion won for Google and 20.5 billion won for Apple, after hearing opinions from business operators on the draft and going through processes, such as deliberation and decision.”