Google Fined IDR 474.8 Billion Won By South Korean Antimonopoly Regulator For Blocking Game Release On Competitor Platforms

South Korea's antitrust regulator has punished Google. (photo: Doc. Pixabay)

JAKARTA - South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc.'s Google 42.1 billion won (IDR 474.8 billion) for blocking the release of mobile video games on competing platforms.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said on Tuesday, April 11 that Google was cementing its market dominance and hurting the revenue and local app market value One Store as a platform by demanding video game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in- app between June 2016 and April 2018.

Google said it would review KFTC's final decision to evaluate its next steps. "Google has made a substantial investment in the developer's success, and we disagree with KFTC's conclusions," a company spokesperson said.

KFTC said the action against the US tech giant was part of the government's efforts to ensure a fair market. Game makers affected by Google's actions include Netmarble, Nexon, and NCSOFT, as well as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.

In 2021, Google was punished by more than 200 billion won (IDR 2.2 trillion) by the KFTC for blocking a customized version of its Android operating system.

Google has faced monopoly accusations and lawsuits in several countries, including the United States, European Union, India, Australia, and South Korea. Some of the suits have resulted in large fines for Google, while others are still under investigation and trial.

Some of the monopoly allegations facing Google include business practices that hurt competitors and reduce consumer choice, including forcing app developers to complete business only through Google's platforms and placing Google's products and services in a more visible place on search results pages.