South Korean Regulator Fines Google $177 Million

The South Korean competition regulator announced it would fine Google ($GOOGL@US) nearly $177 million for using its dominant position in the mobile market to stifle competition. The company’s Android operating system currently holds the majority share of the smartphone market in the country. According to the Korea Fair Trade Commission, Google allegedly used its position to block smartphone makers like Samsung from using operating systems developed by rivals. The tech giant also required smartphone makers to agree to an anti-fragmentation agreement when signing contracts with Google over app store licenses and early access to the operating system. That agreement prevented device makers from installing modified versions of the Android operating system on their handsets. The regulator has asked the company to stop requiring anti-fragmentation agreements and take corrective steps.