We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is Soompi – K-Pop & K-Drama News censored by Apple?
Soompi – K-Pop & K-Drama News is gone from every App Store storefront we test. It was last seen available on Sep 23, 2025.
1,112 tests on record·last checked 28 days ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 8 other apps left the United States the same day, Oct 10, 2025.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- News apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 8 other apps left the United States the same day, Oct 10, 2025.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 8 other apps left the United States the same day, Oct 10, 2025.
- Gone for 3 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
Soompi – K-Pop & K-Drama News
Developer: viikii pte ltd · Category: News · Released: Dec 17, 2015 · Rating: 3.9★
Other News apps missing from India
Life of this app
- Dec 17, 2015Released on the App Store
- Mar 3, 2019First tested by AppleCensorship
- Aug 4, 2023Gone from 115 storefronts
- Sep 23, 2025Last seen available anywhere
- Aug 22, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Apr 18, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Unavailable | Mar 29, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| AngolaAO | Unavailable | Oct 4, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| AnguillaAI | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Unavailable | Sep 7, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| AustraliaAU | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| AustriaAT | Unavailable | Mar 10, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| AzerbaijanAZ | Unavailable | Oct 12, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| BarbadosBB | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| BelarusBY | Unavailable | Apr 29, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| BelizeBZ | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| BeninBJ | Unavailable | Sep 15, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| BermudaBM | Unavailable | Sep 18, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BoliviaBO | Unavailable | Oct 1, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Unavailable | Apr 9, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| BrazilBR | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 14 months ago | ||
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Unavailable | Mar 3, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| BruneiBN | Unavailable | Aug 24, 2023 | 15 months ago | ||
| BulgariaBG | Unavailable | Feb 4, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Aug 30, 2024 | 15 months ago | ||
| CameroonCM | Unavailable | May 29, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| CanadaCA | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| ChadTD | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 1 year ago | ||
| ChileCL | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| ColombiaCO | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 12 months ago | ||
| Costa RicaCR | Unavailable | May 24, 2023 | 5 months ago | ||
| CroatiaHR | Unavailable | Jul 31, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| CzechiaCZ | Unavailable | Jan 15, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| DenmarkDK | Unavailable | Aug 31, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| DominicaDM | Unavailable | Mar 14, 2024 | 1 year ago | ||
| Dominican RepublicDO | Unavailable | Feb 16, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| DR CongoCD | Unavailable | Sep 2, 2023 | 6 months ago | ||
| El SalvadorSV | Unavailable | Sep 10, 2025 | 12 months ago | ||
| EstoniaEE | Unavailable | Jul 28, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| EswatiniSZ | Unavailable | Nov 6, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| FranceFR | Unavailable | Mar 8, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| GambiaGM | Unavailable | Nov 7, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| GeorgiaGE | Unavailable | Aug 12, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| GhanaGH | Unavailable | Jul 5, 2026 | 2 months ago | ||
| GrenadaGD | Unavailable | Mar 25, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| GuatemalaGT | Unavailable | Jul 20, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| Guinea-BissauGW | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| HondurasHN | Unavailable | Aug 24, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 8 months ago | ||
| HungaryHU | Unavailable | Aug 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IcelandIS | Unavailable | Oct 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IndiaIN | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| IrelandIE | Unavailable | Nov 27, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IsraelIL | Unavailable | Jun 23, 2026 | 3 months ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Feb 8, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| JapanJP | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 10 months ago | ||
| JordanJO | Unavailable | Sep 16, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| KazakhstanKZ | Unavailable | Apr 16, 2024 | 11 months ago | ||
| KenyaKE | Unavailable | Aug 9, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| KuwaitKW | Unavailable | Feb 3, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LaosLA | Unavailable | May 13, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LatviaLV | Unavailable | Feb 23, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | May 10, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| LithuaniaLT | Unavailable | Jul 17, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| MacaoMO | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 28 days ago | ||
| MalaysiaMY | Unavailable | Feb 16, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| MaldivesMV | Unavailable | Sep 21, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| MaltaMT | Unavailable | May 24, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| MauritaniaMR | Unavailable | Jul 28, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MicronesiaFM | Unavailable | Aug 15, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | Feb 12, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| MozambiqueMZ | Unavailable | May 23, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Unavailable | Jan 13, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| NamibiaNA | Unavailable | Jun 17, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Apr 3, 2023 | 28 days ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| New ZealandNZ | Unavailable | Jun 1, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| NicaraguaNI | Unavailable | Mar 28, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| NigeriaNG | Unavailable | Nov 13, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 10 months ago | ||
| NorwayNO | Unavailable | Feb 20, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| OmanOM | Unavailable | Aug 4, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| PakistanPK | Unavailable | Aug 27, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | May 13, 2026 | 4 months ago | ||
| PeruPE | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 12 months ago | ||
| PhilippinesPH | Unavailable | Sep 23, 2025 | 12 months ago | ||
| QatarQA | Unavailable | Feb 4, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| RomaniaRO | Unavailable | Apr 25, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Unavailable | Apr 7, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Unavailable | Mar 11, 2024 | 12 months ago | ||
| SenegalSN | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| SeychellesSC | Unavailable | Feb 4, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| Sierra LeoneSL | Unavailable | Jun 10, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| SingaporeSG | Unavailable | Mar 5, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| SlovakiaSK | Unavailable | Jun 23, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| SloveniaSI | Unavailable | Oct 27, 2025 | 28 days ago | ||
| Solomon IslandsSB | Unavailable | Dec 7, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Jul 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Sri LankaLK | Unavailable | Mar 23, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Unavailable | Aug 1, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SurinameSR | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 4 months ago | ||
| SwitzerlandCH | Unavailable | Jun 29, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| TajikistanTJ | Unavailable | Jul 13, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| TanzaniaTZ | Unavailable | Mar 4, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| ThailandTH | Unavailable | Feb 20, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| TongaTO | Unavailable | Mar 30, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| TunisiaTN | Unavailable | Jun 12, 2023 | 15 months ago | ||
| TürkiyeTR | Unavailable | Oct 24, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 8 months ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Jan 18, 2023 | 28 days ago | ||
| United KingdomGB | Unavailable | Nov 21, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Oct 10, 2025 | 28 days ago | ||
| UzbekistanUZ | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| VenezuelaVE | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 11 months ago | ||
| VietnamVN | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| YemenYE | Unavailable | Sep 11, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| ZambiaZM | Unavailable | Feb 23, 2024 | 15 months ago | ||
| AlgeriaDZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArgentinaAR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArmeniaAM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahamasBS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BahrainBH | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelgiumBE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BhutanBT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BotswanaBW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Burkina FasoBF | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Cape VerdeCV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Cayman IslandsKY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CyprusCY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EcuadorEC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EgyptEG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FijiFJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FinlandFI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GabonGA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GermanyDE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GreeceGR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GuyanaGY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndonesiaID | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IraqIQ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JamaicaJM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KyrgyzstanKG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LebanonLB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LibyaLY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LuxembourgLU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MadagascarMG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MalawiMW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaliML | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MauritiusMU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MexicoMX | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MoldovaMD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MongoliaMN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontenegroME | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontserratMS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NetherlandsNL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigerNE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PalauPW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PanamaPA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ParaguayPY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PolandPL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PortugalPT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Republic of the CongoCG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RwandaRW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SerbiaRS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| South AfricaZA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. LuciaLC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SwedenSE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TaiwanTW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TurkmenistanTM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UgandaUG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UruguayUY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VanuatuVU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZimbabweZW | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.