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Seoul reviews Google and Apple requests for high-resolution map data export

South Korea is close to deciding whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution map data to servers outside the country. The detailed maps, at a 1:5,000 scale, would show streets, buildings, and alleyways far more precisely than currently available, but several regulatory and security concerns remain unresolved.

Earlier this week, South Korea’s National Assembly Defense Committee held a parliamentary audit of Google Korea. Lawmakers raised concerns about national security and digital sovereignty, warning that high-resolution satellite maps could expose sensitive military sites when combined with commercial imagery. This session follows delays in May and August over Google’s request to export detailed map data.

A government official said the final decision on Google’s request is expected around November 11, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport having extended the review by 60 days. Google has requested permission for a 1:5,000 scale map for the third time, while currently relying on a 1:25,000 scale map in its app. Local apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map already provide more detailed maps, giving them a competitive edge.

In the past, South Korean authorities in 2011 and 2016 denied Google access to high-resolution maps unless the company opened a local data center and obscured sensitive sites. Google declined these conditions. Following the August rejection, Google reportedly agreed to blur security sites and may purchase government-approved satellite data from local providers.

Apple also requested to export 1:5,000 scale maps in June, after its 2023 request was denied. Unlike Google, Apple operates local servers, giving authorities quicker control over sensitive areas. Reports suggest Apple may comply more readily with government restrictions, using local map data from SK Telecom’s T Map.

High-resolution maps can support advanced navigation, self-driving cars, drone deliveries, smart city development, tourism, and local businesses. However, critics warn the move may primarily benefit U.S. tech companies rather than domestic users.

Under South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act, government survey data cannot be exported without Cabinet approval. Similar security concerns have influenced map policies in conflict zones globally, including Israel, Ukraine, and Europe.

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