Microsoft Corp Monday submitted an appeal to a South Korean court against an administrative ruling that it violated fair trade rules and must unbundle its media player and messaging service from its Windows software system.

The world's largest software company said in a statement that its actions are consistent with Korean law and have benefited Korean consumers and the technology industry.

In December, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) ruled against Microsoft saying the software giant uses its power position with operating systems to exclude competitors from the market and ordered the company to strip its instant messaging and media player software from some versions of Windows marketed in the country.

"The KFTC's decision would create complexities for Korean hardware and software manufacturers in a way that would erode their competitiveness in the global market," the statement said.

Microsoft was also fined 33 billion won ($33 million) by the KFTC in response to a complaint by Korea's second largest internet firm Daum Communications, and ordered to pay by April 24.

"The restrictions imposed by the KFTC are more extreme than those required by the European Commission," said the US company in a statement.

In March 2004, the EU commission had similarly ruled against Microsoft for abusing its market domination and fined the company 497 million euros. Microsoft is also appealing against the European ruling.