Apple said it will allow alternative payment systems in South Korea in compliance with a local law that bans app store operators from forcing their own in-app payment systems.
The move came as a new law went into effect in South Korea in September last year, restricting app store operators, such as Google and Apple, from forcing their in-app payment systems on developers.
In November, Google pledged to provide an alternative payment system on its app store in South Korea at a slightly reduced service charge in an apparent move to abide by the country’s new law.
Apple plans to provide an alternative payment system at a reduced service charge compared with the current 30 percent charge, as the tech giant turned in its compliance plans to Korea Communications Commission (KCC), reports Yonhap news agency.
Apple did not provide the exact date of when the policy will take effect or the service fee to be applied but said it plans to discuss with the KCC on further details.
“We look forward to working with the KCC and our developer community on a solution that benefits our Korean users,” Apple said in a statement.
The KCC earlier announced app store operators will face a fine for forcing developers to use their own in-app payment systems.
South Korea was the first country to introduce such curbs on global giants’ in-app billing policies, which have been increasingly under scrutiny around the world.