South Korea’s government has confirmed that Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., will be permitted to export digital map data at a 1:5,000 scale, paving the way for improved Google Maps functionality in the country. The policy change ends nearly two decades of restrictions and follows ongoing pressure from the United States over perceived barriers to American technology companies.
This move enables Google to provide more comprehensive navigation and location-based offerings in South Korea, but stipulates several security conditions. Sensitive military and other protected sites must be blurred, and precise coordinates for South Korean territory will remain limited in Google Maps and similar platforms.
For years, South Korea’s law required foreign businesses to keep detailed map information on servers physically located within the country. The Eastern Asian nation had been denying Google’s request to export map data since 2007, citing unresolved tensions with North Korea and national security risks.
As a result, Google Maps has operated with significantly reduced features compared to domestic competitors, such as Naver and Kakao, which controlled the local mapping market. While the decision may help address U.S. policymakers’ concerns over unfair barriers for American tech firms, it is expected to affect the competitive standing of domestic operators.
President Lee Jae Myung’s administration described the new approach as an effort to safeguard security interests while supporting South Korea’s ambitions in digital technology and artificial intelligence.
