Publishing Association Files Complaint Against Broadcasting Commission Chairman... "Negligence in Regulating In-App Payments"

The Korea Publishing Culture Association filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 30th of last month against Sang-hyuk Han, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, for dereliction of duty and obstruction of the exercise of authority related to Google's in-app payment system. (Photo by Korea Publishing Culture Association)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seung-jin] The Korea Publishing Culture Association has filed a complaint against Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.

The Publishing Association announced on the 3rd that it reported Chairman Han to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on charges of dereliction of duty and abuse of authority related to Google's in-app payment system.

The Publishing Association argued that Google's enforcement of in-app payments constitutes a prohibited act under the Telecommunications Business Act, yet "the Korea Communications Commission stated that it does not have the authority to regulate this," which they claim amounts to dereliction of duty by abandoning regulatory obligations.

They also stated, "When Google refused to update due to Kakao's KakaoTalk app's external payment outlink, Chairman Han convened executives from Google and Kakao through the Korea Communications Commission's User Policy Bureau in July, leading Kakao to delete the external payment outlink and reach an agreement with Google under the Commission's leadership," adding, "This forced Kakao to perform an unnecessary act and constituted an abuse of authority that obstructed Kakao's legitimate exercise of rights."

Previously, the Publishing Association had filed a complaint with the police in July regarding Google's so-called 'mandatory in-app payment' policy, which prohibits external payment outlinks.

In the complaint, the Publishing Association claimed that Google's unfair use of its dominant market position to force mobile content providers to use a specific payment method violates the Telecommunications Business Act.