After years of appeals, Google has finally received conditional approval to export high-precision geographic information out of South Korea. This move opens the door for the company to provide proper Google Maps services in the country, including features like walking and real-time driving directions. It reverses a long-standing policy on data restrictions that had essentially made Google Maps and Apple Maps non-functional there.
Previously, Google provided maps services in South Korea using high-resolution map data but could not export that data to its own servers. This limitation prevented the company from offering key features such as turn-by-turn navigation or detailed business listings.
South Korea had resisted Google’s appeals since 2011, citing national security concerns. The government argued that precise satellite maps, when combined with commercial imagery and online data, could expose sensitive military sites. Given that South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea, the government was cautious and had demanded Google set up a local data center and obscure sensitive locations.
The approval comes with strict rules designed to protect sensitive military and infrastructure sites. The South Korean government will verify compliance before any data leaves the country. All images of South Korean territory used in Google Maps and Google Earth must comply with national security regulations, and historical imagery must obscure sensitive military sites. Google is also required to remove or limit coordinate data for South Korean locations, with only essential data for navigation and routing permitted for export.
All data processing must be done on servers operated by Google’s local partners. Sensitive topographic and military data remain off-limits, and any updates to military or security sites must be carried out promptly on domestic servers at the government’s request.
This decision will likely send ripples through Korea’s domestic maps market, where local navigation apps like Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map have thrived in the relative absence of global providers.
In its announcement, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the decision was influenced by a desire to boost tourism. Because Google Maps has been largely unusable in Korea, tourists have had to rely on local apps, regardless of English language support. The ministry also stated 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 help grow South Korea’s geospatial industry so that exporting the data benefits domestic innovation and economic growth, not just the tech giant.
Google has not yet said if it will set up a data center in South Korea. The company operates an array of data centers in Asia, including in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The government also outlined new measures to handle potential security incidents related to the export of high-resolution maps. The ministry said it would work with Google to establish a security incident prevention and response framework to manage risks before any data leaves the country. For situations involving imminent threats to national security, a technical “red button” mechanism will be implemented to allow for rapid emergency response.
Additionally, South Korea will require a local officer to be stationed in-country to maintain constant communication with the government and ensure the smooth handling of any security incidents. Google did not immediately return a request for comment.