South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has opened a formal investigation into Google for allegedly abusing its market dominance by forcing app developers to use its billing system.
Local app developers argue that Google’s 15-30% commission on app sales is unfair. If found guilty, Google could face hefty fines.
This isn’t the first time the tech giant has faced scrutiny in Asia. India’s antitrust authority fined Google in 2022 for similar reasons. Bangladesh’s IT sector and Nepal’s startup community are also keeping an eye on the outcome, as it may open up space for local app platforms.
