South Korea fines Google, Apple for forcing in-app payments

South Korea’s Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission fined Google 42.9 billion won and Apple 20.81 billion won for practices that regulators said effectively forced developers to use the companies’ in-app payment systems. The commission also found that the companies unfairly delayed app reviews and imposed conditions on alternative payments, with Apple additionally found to have charged discriminatory fees to domestic and international developers. The penalties enforce South Korea’s 2021 law barring app-store operators from coercing developers into specific payment methods. The decision follows an investigation begun in 2022 and years of delays; the final fines were reduced from the 68 billion won originally proposed in 2023.