KEY POINTS
- The South Korean government has officially approved Google’s bid to transfer 1:5,000 scale map data to overseas data centers.
- This historic decision reverses two decades of rejections based on national security concerns regarding military facilities.
- Google must comply with strict conditions, including masking sensitive security sites and processing data on domestic servers.
South Korea has granted conditional approval for Google to export high-precision map data, marking a major turning point in a 20-year technological and diplomatic standoff. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the decision on Friday following a high-level interagency meeting. The approval allows the U.S. tech giant to transfer 1:5,000 scale digital map data to its overseas servers, a move previously blocked due to security risks.
The dispute dates back to 2007, with South Korea citing its ongoing state of war with North Korea as a primary reason for restricting the export of detailed geographic information. Authorities argued that high-resolution maps could reveal the locations of sensitive military bases and government buildings. Google’s previous requests in 2007 and 2016 were both rejected on these national security grounds.
To secure this approval, Google submitted supplementary materials earlier this month addressing the government’s stringent safety requirements. The tech giant has committed to “masking” or blurring imagery of security-sensitive facilities to ensure they are not visible to users. Additionally, the government has mandated that the initial processing of this sensitive data must occur on domestic servers managed by Korean entities.
The decision follows significant pressure from the United States, which has long classified South Korea’s map export restrictions as a non-tariff trade barrier. U.S. officials argued that the lack of high-precision data unfairly advantaged local competitors like Naver and Kakao while hindering American firms. The breakthrough is expected to improve Google Maps’ functionality in Korea, potentially enabling full walking and driving navigation for the first time.
Beyond consumer navigation, high-precision maps are essential for the development of future technologies such as autonomous driving and drone delivery services. By granting access to this data, the South Korean government aims to foster innovation while maintaining a firm grip on national safety protocols. Industry analysts believe this move could redefine the competitive landscape for location-based services in one of the world’s most connected markets.
While the approval is a significant victory for Google, the government emphasized that it will monitor the company’s compliance closely. Any failure to adhere to the video security processing and coordinate display limits could result in a revocation of the export license. The final decision signals a shift in South Korean policy toward balancing international trade obligations with the unique security needs of the peninsula.
