Google Gains Approval to Export High-Precision Geographic Information from South Korea
Google, the leading global tech company, has finally obtained conditional approval to export high-precision geographic information from South Korea after years of appeals. This crucial development paves the way for Google to offer comprehensive Google Maps services in South Korea, including walking and real-time driving directions. Here
Prior to this, stringent data restrictions had essentially rendered Google Maps and Apple Maps non-functional in the country. Google had been offering map services using high-resolution, 1:5,000 scale map data, but without the ability to export this data to their servers, features such as turn-by-turn navigation or detailed business listings could not be provided.
South Korea’s Resistance and Google’s Persistence
Since 2011, South Korea had been resisting Google’s appeals to export precise geographic data. The country’s concerns centered around national security, fearing that Google’s precision satellite maps could expose sensitive military sites when combined with commercial imagery and online data. As South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea, the government demanded that Google establish a data center in South Korea and obscure sensitive locations to protect national security.
Conditional Approval with Strict Rules
The approval comes with stringent rules aimed at protecting sensitive military and infrastructure sites. The government of South Korea will verify compliance before any data leaves the country. Any images of South Korean territory used in Google Maps and Google Earth must meet national security regulations. Furthermore, historical imagery in Google Earth and Street View must obscure sensitive military sites. Google is also required to either remove or limit coordinate data for South Korean locations, and only essential data for navigation and routing can be exported.
Data Processing and Security Measures
All data processing must be done on servers operated by Google’s local partners, and sensitive topographic and military data remain strictly off-limits. Any updates to military or security sites must be carried out promptly on domestic servers at the government’s request. The government also plans to establish a “security incident prevention and response framework” to handle potential security incidents related to the export of high-resolution maps. In cases of imminent threats to national security, a technical “red button” mechanism will be implemented for rapid emergency response. South Korea will also require a local officer to be stationed in-country to maintain constant communication with the government and ensure smooth handling of any security incidents.
Impact on the Korean Maps Market
This development will likely send shockwaves through the domestic maps market in Korea, which has seen local navigation apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map flourish in the absence of providers like Google or Apple.
Boosting Tourism and Geospatial Industry
In a statement, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the decision was influenced by its intention to boost tourism in the country. As Google Maps had previously been somewhat ineffective in Korea, tourists have had to rely on local apps, whether or not they offer English language support. The ministry also stated that the move aims to strengthen the country’s geospatial industry by supporting the development of high-precision, 3D infrastructure and geo AI technologies. The government is urging Google to contribute to the growth of South Korea’s geospatial industry, so that data exporting benefits not just Google, but also domestic innovation and economic growth.
Google has not yet confirmed if it plans to establish a data center in South Korea. The company currently operates several data centers across Asia, including in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
