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iPhone users will have to pay more when purchasing apps on their smartphones in the future.

This is because the exchange rate has risen, but on the contrary, Apple did not answer the question of whether the price would be returned if the exchange rate fell again.



Reporter Lee Hye-mi reported.



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iPhone users will have to pay 500 won more than now when purchasing KakaoTalk emoticons from the day after tomorrow (6th).



Because of Apple's pricing policy.



[Choi Tae-hoon/iPhone user: It seems to be rising too much than I thought…

.] [

Junho



Baek / iPhone user: It can be a little burdensome for people who use emoticons a lot (I think).]



We will increase the price of the content we purchase from tomorrow.



The reason was not disclosed.



[Kim Go-eun / iPhone user: I think it was ridiculous.

If the exchange rate rises and the price of app purchases rises, it's even worse for us.]



Apple divides apps into 87 ratings and sets prices, and this decision raises prices by up to 30%.



If the increased price tag is applied as it is, it is estimated that users will additionally pay KRW 350 billion per year, including KRW 184.8 billion for music content and KRW 110.7 billion for OTT.



The game industry, which has a large market size, is in the position of maintaining the existing price, but is opening up the possibility of changing the composition of the content or raising it in the future.



When asked why the price was raised, Apple said that the won-dollar exchange rate would rise, but did not answer the question of whether it would lower the price if the exchange rate fell.

[Yang Jeong- sook



/ National Assembly Member: When there is a price increase factor, it is raised like lightning, and in the end, the damage is inevitably the people's responsibility.]



is being investigated by the Fair Trade Commission.



A law was made to prevent platform operators such as Apple from compelling the use of their app markets, but without effect, the burden on users and developers is increasing.



(Video coverage: Kim Se-kyung, video editing: Yoon Tae-ho, CG: Jo Su-in)