Overview: A High-Stakes Map Decision
South Korea is nearing a pivotal decision on whether to permit Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data to servers located outside the country. The government is weighing the benefits of advanced navigation, smart city applications, and economic opportunities against national security and digital sovereignty concerns that have persisted for years.
The core issue hinges on a 1:5,000 scale map, which provides far greater detail than the current 1:25,000 data used by Google and other providers. Such detail includes precise street-level layouts, building footprints, and alleyways. While this could boost local tech services and tourism, it also raises red flags about revealing sensitive military sites and critical infrastructure to adversaries or unsanctioned actors.
Regulatory Hurdles and Security Fears
South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act restricts the transfer of government survey data abroad without cabinet approval. The act, a relic from the 1970s, ensures that geospatial data remains under tight state control. The National Assembly Defense Committee’s recent audit of Google Korea underscored lawmakers’ concerns about national security and digital sovereignty. Some policymakers argue for strict oversight, including mandatory local data centers and masking sensitive locations, before any export could proceed.
Past refusals—rejections in 2011 and 2016—were rooted in similar worries. Google’s resistance to local data hosting, coupled with calls to obscure sensitive sites, delayed progress. The current dialogue suggests a compromise path: allow export under government-imposed constraints and technology controls, with ongoing monitoring by a Cabinet-level authority.
What Google and Apple Are Seeking
Google’s latest request, submitted in February, seeks permission to use a 1:5,000-scale map for its services and to transfer map data to servers outside Korea. Apple followed suit, seeking similar rights in June after a prior rejection. The distinction between Google, which routes data off-shore, and Apple, which relies on local servers, is key for regulators assessing risk, latency, and rapid response to security incidents.
Officials have highlighted that high-resolution maps could bolster domestic tech ecosystems, enabling more accurate navigation apps and smarter city infrastructure. Yet the same detail could compromise sensitive installations if misused. In response, Google reportedly agreed to blur or obscure sensitive locations and has explored acquiring government-approved local satellite data to supplement its offerings. Apple has signaled potential flexibility, including masking and tiered access controls, and may rely on SK Telecom’s T Map as a core data source to minimize risk.
What’s Different for Google vs. Apple?
Google faces a unique challenge because it currently exports data and hosts mapping content abroad, which has long drawn scrutiny under South Korea’s laws. Apple’s approach—maintaining local servers—might simplify compliance and reduce exposure risk, but the company still needs formal approval for data export. The government’s decision could hinge on whether to require local data centers, restricted access to sensitive sites, and robust auditing mechanisms to ensure compliance.
Possible Outcomes and Implications
If approved with conditions, the move could accelerate smart city initiatives, improve digital tourism, and enhance local businesses by enabling richer maps and more precise geolocation services. It could also raise questions about data sovereignty and the balance of power between global tech platforms and national security.
Conversely, if the decision is delayed or denied, local navigation apps like Naver Map, T map, and Kakao Map might continue to advantage themselves with 1:5,000-depth data only available domestically. The government could push for alternative arrangements—such as licensing agreements with local providers or a phased rollout with strict geofencing—to preserve security while fostering innovation.
The Road Ahead
Officials have indicated the final decision could arrive around November 11, with the review period extended by 60 days in recent weeks. The ongoing dialogue reflects broader global debates about geospatial data, privacy, and security in an era of rapid AI and autonomous systems. The outcome will likely shape how South Korea navigates digital sovereignty in a world where maps underpin both everyday apps and critical national infrastructure.
In the meantime, tech giants, policymakers, and local stakeholders are watching closely to see whether South Korea can strike a balance that protects security while unlocking the benefits of high-precision mapping for its citizens.
