South Korea’s Korea Media and Communications Commission fined Google and Apple a combined 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million) on October 28, 2026, saying the companies abused their dominance in app-store markets. The regulator ordered both companies to allow external payment links for South Korean developers and to improve app-review procedures.
The action follows years of scrutiny under South Korea’s 2021 law, which bars app-store operators from forcing developers to use a specific payment system. It does not ban Google or Apple in South Korea, and consumers can continue using their services.
What the regulator found
The commission fined Google 42.9 billion won ($32 million) and Apple 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million). It said both companies steered developers toward their own in-app payment systems by charging a 26% commission on permitted third-party payment options and withholding some features available through their proprietary systems.
The regulator also found cases in which app reviews were delayed without clear explanations or reliable information about when the process would resume. Those delays can affect whether developers launch updates, add features or keep applications available to users.
"South Korea’s enforcement effort puts payment choice and predictable app reviews at the centre of its digital-market rules."
Why the decision matters to developers and users
For developers, the orders could create another route for collecting payments from South Korean customers. If external links become easier to use, some businesses may be able to reduce the share of each transaction paid to an app-store operator, though the final commercial effect will depend on how Google and Apple implement the orders.
The case also places scrutiny on the review process, not only on commissions. A clearer explanation for delays could give developers more certainty when releasing apps and updates, particularly for smaller companies with limited cash and engineering resources.
South Korea has been an early test market for limits on app-store power. It became the first country to enforce a law in 2021 prohibiting operators such as Google and Apple from requiring users to rely exclusively on their own in-app payment systems.
The penalties and orders at a glance
| Key Metric / Entity | Verified Detail | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Combined penalty | 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million) | Raises the cost of maintaining restrictive app-store practices in South Korea |
| 42.9 billion won ($32 million) fine | Requires changes to payment access and review procedures | |
| Apple | 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million) fine | Faces payment and commission scrutiny, including historical treatment of local developers |
| Commission rate cited by regulator | 26% for certain third-party payment arrangements | Gives developers a basis to challenge whether external options are genuinely competitive |
| Enforcement framework | South Korea’s 2021 app-store payment law | Provides the legal basis for regulator action against mandatory payment systems |
What happens next
Google and Apple must allow South Korean developers to use external payment links within their apps and improve the way app reviews are handled, according to the Korea Media and Communications Commission. The regulator’s order makes implementation the next point of focus, including how the companies disclose payment choices and explain review delays.
The commission separately accused Apple of charging South Korean developers higher commissions than developers in other markets from 2015 through January 2023. Google and Apple had not immediately issued responses to the findings.
For the public, the immediate effect is unlikely to be a loss of access to Google or Apple services. The more visible changes could come later through different payment options, altered pricing decisions by developers or faster explanations when an app submission is held for review.
Key Factual ClarificationsEditorial Q&A
Is Google banned in South Korea?
No. Google is allowed to operate in South Korea, and the ruling does not block consumers from using Google services or applications.
Is Google blocked in South Korea?
No. The penalties concern app-store payment practices and review procedures, not a nationwide block on Google.
Is Apple affected by the decision?
Yes. Apple received a 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million) fine and must allow external payment links and improve its app-review procedures for South Korean developers.
Why did South Korea fine Google and Apple?
The Korea Media and Communications Commission said both companies pressured developers to use their own payment systems, charged 26% for certain third-party arrangements and delayed some app reviews without sufficient explanations.
