The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has fined global tech giant Google 207.4 billion won for hampering market competition by pressuring smartphone makers into only using its Android mobile operating system.
Since 2016, South Korea's antitrust regulator has been looking into allegations that Google obstructed local smartphone makers, such as Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., from using rival operating systems.
According to KFTC, Google has been requiring smartphone makers to clinch an "anti-fragmentation agreement (AFA)" over app store licenses and early access to OS.
The AFA prohibits the installation or development of modified versions of Android OS, known as "Android forks" on their products.
Consequently, Google dominated the mobile platform market, with its share rising 97.7 percent of the mobile OS market as of 2019 while undermining innovation in the development of other OS for smart devices.
The fine among cases of abuse of market dominance and unfair business activities in South Korea is the second-largest since 1.03 trillion won slapped on US chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. in 2016.
The KFTC also ordered Google LLC, Google Asia Pacific. and Google Korea to take corrective steps, such as desisting from its practice of forcing Android device manufacturers to sign an AFA.
The KFTC expects the corrective steps to help the launch of innovative goods and services in smart device markets.
Google plans to appeal KFTC's decision.


Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans
AMD Shares Slide Despite Earnings Beat as Cautious Revenue Outlook Weighs on Stock
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 



