Seoul in Your Hands: A Guide to the City

South Korea’s‍ Fair⁤ Trade Commission (KFTC) is scrutinizing potential monopolistic practices by ‌major app store operators ​- Google (Play Store) and Apple (app Store). This includes examining ⁤in-app⁣ purchase systems, ​commission rates, and restrictions on app developers. Specifically, the KFTC is investigating whether these companies are unfairly leveraging their market ​dominance.

Recent developments include:

* 5-Year Investigation: ‌The KFTC has been ⁤investigating Google’s in-app purchase policies for approximately 5 years,focusing on the ‘unfair’⁤ commission ‍fees.
* Developer Concerns: App ⁣developers have voiced concerns regarding the KFTC’s investigation of Apple’s​ in-app purchase policies, specifically regarding ‘commission-related issues’ and restrictions on alternative payment ⁢methods.
* previous Penalties: In 2022, ⁣the KFTC imposed a penalty on Google for ​obstructing app developers from using​ their own payment systems.

The KFTC’s investigation extends to:

* ‘Apple Pay’ Restrictions: Concerns regarding restrictions on the use of ‘Apple Pay’ by app developers.
* Commission Rates: Scrutiny ‌of commission rates charged by both Google and Apple, and whether​ these rates are excessive.
* Payment System Control: Investigation⁢ into whether⁣ google ⁢and Apple are unfairly controlling the payment systems within their app stores.

Moreover, there’s growing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ​factors. Companies are increasingly expected to demonstrate responsible business practices, including fair treatment of​ app developers and‌ transparent commission structures. ​This pressure extends to app store operators, requiring them to balance profitability with ethical considerations.

The KFTC is employing various methods to gather information,including document requests,developer interviews,and QR code-based‌ surveys to ⁢collect data from a wider range of app developers.