South Korea Fines Google $32 Mln for Blocking Games on Competing Platform

A woman holds her smart phone, which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/File Photo
A woman holds her smart phone, which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/File Photo
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South Korea Fines Google $32 Mln for Blocking Games on Competing Platform

A woman holds her smart phone, which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/File Photo
A woman holds her smart phone, which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/File Photo

South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc's Google 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video games on a competitor's platform.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said on Tuesday that Google bolstered its market dominance, and hurt local app market One Store's revenue and value as a platform, by requiring video game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in-app exposure between June 2016 and April 2018, Reuters said.

Google said it will review the final decision by the KFTC to evaluate the next course of action.

"Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC's conclusions", a spokesperson said.

The KFTC said the move against the US technology giant is part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets.

Game makers affected by Google's action include Netmarble , Nexon and NCSOFT, as well as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.

In 2021, Google was fined more than 200 billion won by the KFTC for blocking customized versions of its Android operating system.



Spain’s Watchdog Expands Probe into Apple Over App Store Pricing 

A general view of latest model of iPhone in an Apple store in Beijing, China, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
A general view of latest model of iPhone in an Apple store in Beijing, China, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
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Spain’s Watchdog Expands Probe into Apple Over App Store Pricing 

A general view of latest model of iPhone in an Apple store in Beijing, China, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
A general view of latest model of iPhone in an Apple store in Beijing, China, 28 July 2025. (EPA)

Spain's antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it was expanding its investigation into possible anti-competitive behavior by Apple for allegedly imposing unequal commercial conditions on developers of mobile applications sold at its app marketplace.

The wider probe will examine whether the tech giant set pricing schedules at its App Store, abusing its dominant position, the CNMC said in a statement.

Apple has denied the allegations since the CNMC launched its investigation a year ago.