Republic of Korea: Rejected Final Consent Decree in Korean Fair Trade Commission investigation into Broadcom for alleged abuse of dominance

On 21 September 2023, the Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) issued corrective orders and imposed a preliminary fine of KRW 191 billion against Broadcom for unfair business practices regarding Samsung Electronics. Samsung relied on Broadcom for the majority of advanced, high-performance components used in high-end premium smart devices. Allegedly, Broadcom developed a strategy to pressure Samsung into signing a disadvantageous long-term agreement (LTA), ensuring long-term revenue, and preventing Samsung Electronics from leaving as a competing supplier.