Foreign media have given major coverage to Korea being the first country to pass a law banning app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing "in-app payments." (Screen capture from Wall Street Journal)

By Yoon Hee Young 

Foreign media have given major coverage to Korea being the first country to pass a law to ban app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing "in-app payments."

The Wall Street Journal on Aug. 31 said, "The law amends Korea's Telecommunications Business Act to prevent operators from unreasonably delaying the approval of apps or deleting them from the marketplace," adding, "Google and Apple Inc. will have to open their app stores to alternative payment systems in Korea, threatening their lucrative commissions on digital sales."

Bloomberg added, "Korea became the first country to force Apple and Google to open up their app stores to other payment systems," adding, "The confrontation strikes at the fundamental role played not only by Apple and Google but also Amazon.com Inc. and Facebook Inc. as the new gatekeepers of the digital economy."

The Washington Post on Aug. 31 in the article "U.S. legislators hail South Korea’s move to curb Apple and Google’s app-store dominance" covered an amendment to Korea's Telecommunications Business Act to prevent in-app payments. (Screen capture from Washington Post)

The Washington Post said Google and Apple resisted the legislation in Korea but "tech critics see the legislation as a necessary guardrail to protect consumers and businesses from anti-competitive practices."

The British daily Financial Times said, "Korea has become the first country in the world to attack the lucrative commissions charged by Google and Apple's app stores, after passing a law that will let mobile phone users pay software developers directly for their apps."

"Despite heavy lobbying by the tech giants, Korea's national assembly on Tuesday passed what has been dubbed the 'anti-Google bill,'" it added. "The legislation is likely to be closely examined by other regulators around the world, as concerns grow about the monopolies on app distribution enjoyed by Apple and Google."

The National Assembly on Aug. 31 passed an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act that prevents app store operators like Google and Apple from forcing people to use their own in-app payment systems.

hyyoon@korea.kr