Jin-sook Lee: "Korea Communications Commission's Investigation on Google and Apple's In-App Payments in Final Stage"

26th National Assembly Hearing for Candidate Lee Jin-suk, Chair of the Korea Communications Commission
"Google Allowed Third-Party Payments but No Difference in Fees"

Candidate for Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Jin-sook, stated that the "(Google and Apple in-app payment related) investigation is in its final stages."

On the 26th, the third day of the confirmation hearing for Lee Jin-sook, the nominee for Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is underway at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee.
Photo by Hwang Seo-yul chestnut@

At the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 26th, in response to Rep. Lee Jung-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea's criticism that "it has been nine months since the KCC said it would receive opinions from Apple and Google regarding the fines imposed for in-app payments, but no action has been taken yet," Candidate Lee replied, "Criticism from the public is understandable."

The KCC imposed a fine of 68 billion KRW on Google and Apple last October for violating the law prohibiting forced in-app payments. The law against forced in-app payments prevents companies operating mobile applications from forcing a specific payment method.

Candidate Lee said, "Google has allowed third-party payments, but the commission fee is 26%," adding, "Since it is not much different from the 30% in-app payment commission, it is under review."

Rep. Lee said, "They keep saying it is under review, but no deadline has been set for submitting opinions, and no results have been announced." He added, "In Korea, fines are imposed at 2% of sales revenue, while the European Union enacted the Digital Markets Act last March imposing fines of 10% of sales revenue, and Japan imposes fines of 20% under the Smartphone Competition Promotion Act."

Candidate Lee responded, "I will pay attention to policies so that consumers do not suffer losses and can benefit more."