South Korea’s Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) announced on October 28, 2026, reported penalties totaling 63.7 billion won against Google and Apple over app-store payment practices and app-review delays. The reported order requires both companies to let developers in South Korea include links to external payment options in their apps and to improve app-review procedures.
| Company | Reported fine |
| 42.9 billion won | |
| Apple | 20.8 billion won |
The practices the KMCC cited
The KMCC said third-party payment options used inside apps faced a 26% commission and lacked some features available through Google’s and Apple’s own payment systems. It also said the companies barred payments through external websites and delayed app reviews without adequate explanations.
These are separate payment routes: a third-party option processes a payment inside an app, while an external-payment link takes a user to a website. The reported corrective order addresses the latter by requiring links to be allowed for developers in South Korea.
The law’s stated aims
A 2021 notice from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) described the amended Telecommunications Business Act’s aims as a fair and sound app-market ecosystem, consumer-rights protection, and prevention of harm. The notice also described forced payment methods and unfairly delayed app reviews or deletions as prohibited conduct.
Apple disputes the decision
Apple said it respectfully disagreed with the KMCC’s decision, maintained that its practices comply with South Korean law, and was evaluating legal options. Apple cited user security and fraud protections as concerns about alternative payment methods. The Associated Press reported that Google had not immediately responded to its request for comment.
MediaPost, citing The Korea Herald, reported that the companies had one month from receiving the orders to submit compliance plans and three months to implement changes.
