South Korea is nearing a decision on whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data to servers outside the country. Detailed maps using a scale of 1:5,000 show roads, buildings, and alleys in far more detail than is currently available on these platforms. However, some regulatory and security hurdles remain unresolved.
Earlier this week, the South Korean National Assembly Defense Committee conducted a national audit of Google Korea. Lawmakers questioned the company’s request for regional mapping data, raising concerns about national security and digital sovereignty. The session comes two months after the South Korean government postponed a decision on a request to export Google’s high-resolution map data to August, following a postponement in May.
One policymaker has warned that Google’s satellite maps, when combined with commercial imagery and online data, could expose sensitive military locations and jeopardize national security. He is calling on the government to gain powers to monitor and regulate the export of high-resolution geographic information. Considering that South Korea is effectively at war with North Korea, the government is cautious about revealing such locations.
The government’s final decision on Google Maps is expected to be made around November 11th, or sooner, a South Korean government official told TechCrunch. Last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the review period would be extended for another 60 days.
In February, for the third time in South Korea, Google requested permission from the National Geographic Information Institute of Korea to use 1:5,000 scale maps in its apps, which provide more detailed information, and to transfer the map data to servers outside South Korea. According to a Google spokesperson, Google already provides mapping services in South Korea that use 1:5,000 scale map data. But without the ability to export that data, it won’t be able to provide important features such as turn-by-turn navigation that users expect from modern mapping apps, the spokesperson added.
A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch: “By exporting this data, we can provide a richer, more accurate, and more secure experience for your daily commute, travel, and various location-based services.”
Local navigation apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map are the most popular among local users. These apps provide map data at a 1:5,000 scale, providing more information and detail, giving you a huge competitive advantage.
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South Korean authorities denied Google’s requests for access to the country’s mapping data in 2011 and again in 2016. Citing security concerns, officials clarified that approval depends on the company opening on-site data centers and concealing sensitive locations, including national security facilities. Google refused to meet these conditions.
Google reportedly agreed to hide the location of the country’s security hubs on Google Maps and Google Earth after South Korea refused approval in August. The company has been blurring sensitive facilities to address government concerns over satellite imagery and is reportedly considering purchasing government-approved satellite data from local providers including T Map.
A Google spokesperson said: “We have publicly stated our intention to take measures such as blurring sensitive facilities in satellite images. Our goal is always to find solutions that balance national security considerations with our goal of providing a robust and useful service to our users in South Korea.”
According to South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act (Article 16), government survey data such as maps and satellite images cannot be transmitted overseas without approval from the entire Cabinet. The law, enacted in 2014, continues to underpin the country’s strict control over geospatial data.
Map data is a sensitive national security issue in conflict zones around the world. The Israeli military has asked Google Maps to turn off real-time traffic data for Israel and the Gaza Strip in 2023, as it did for Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. And in 2009, European regulators asked Google to remove the original Street View images, citing privacy concerns.
“The scale of map services provided by Google varies depending on regional characteristics within the same country. For example, we may provide high-scale map services in urban areas and lower-scale map services in other regions,” the spokesperson said. “However, major countries such as the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Israel generally offer map services at scales of 1:5,000 or higher in urban areas.”
Apple follows Google in seeking South Korean map data
Google isn’t the only company making moves. In June, Apple requested that South Korea export high-resolution map data at a scale of 1:5,000. This was after the first request in 2023 was rejected.
Google has its map servers outside South Korea, while Apple operates servers in the country, a distinction the government weighs when reviewing requests. Local servers allow authorities to quickly respond to security concerns on sensitive sites.
Last month, South Korea postponed a decision on Apple’s permit to export high-definition digital map data, postponing the review to December.
Apple may reportedly be more flexible than Google in complying with government-imposed restrictions, such as blurring, masking, and lowering resolution of sensitive sites. The company is also said to be planning to use SK Telecom’s T Map as its primary basemap data source.
Apple did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
Google and Apple are upgrading their maps with detailed building site, alley, and precise street-level data to enhance navigation, and could also support advanced technologies such as self-driving cars and drone delivery. For South Korea, exporting high-resolution map data could boost tourism, promote local businesses, and promote smart city innovation, while giving the government leverage to strengthen security measures. But critics have warned that the move could primarily benefit U.S. tech giants rather than domestic users.
According to the report, Google Maps has a wider global reach covering 250 countries and territories, while Apple Maps is available in over 200 regions.
Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act was passed in the 1970s. Story has been updated to reflect that the current version of the law, enacted on June 3, 2014, establishes its structure and rules, including restrictions on the export of geospatial data. (9:24 p.m. PT Oct. 16: Article updated to include Google’s statement.)
