South Korea Deliberates High-Resolution Map Exports
South Korea is nearing a pivotal decision on whether Google and Apple can export high-resolution geographic map data from the country. The proposed 1:5,000 scale maps would deliver unprecedented detail—showing streets, buildings, and alleyways with a precision far beyond current public map layers. The outcome could reshape how foreign tech giants operate in Korea, influence domestic navigation apps, and set a precedent for geospatial data governance in a tech-heavy era.
Regulatory Pathways and Security Concerns
The National Assembly Defense Committee recently scrutinized Google Korea’s data requests, highlighting national security and digital sovereignty as core stakes. Seoul has repeatedly delayed a final decision, most recently extending the review period by 60 days after earlier postponements. A key concern is the potential exposure of sensitive military sites when high-resolution imagery is paired with commercial data online.
Under South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act, government survey data cannot be transmitted abroad without Cabinet approval. This 1970s-era framework gives authorities broad leverage to require safeguards, such as local data centers or the masking of sensitive locations, before green-lighting exports.
Some lawmakers argue that allowing high-resolution exports could jeopardize security by enabling adversaries to map critical sites. Others caution that stringent restrictions are necessary but may also slow innovation and put Korea at a disadvantage compared with other markets where foreign tech giants host maps remotely.
Google, Apple, and the Race for Local Control
Google has pursued a 1:5,000 scale for years, arguing that it will enhance product quality, accuracy for local businesses, and user navigation. However, to date, Google’s requests have faced resistance, with authorities insisting on local data centers and obscuring sensitive locations. In August, Seoul reportedly pressed for further guarantees and even explored alternative data sources, including government-approved satellite data from local providers like T Map.
Apple has also joined the review process, signaling it seeks to export high-resolution map content at the same detailed scale. Unlike Google, Apple’s strategy in Korea could lean more on maintaining local servers, a move that some officials view as favorable for rapid security responses and regulatory oversight. Observers note that Apple has been perceived as potentially more flexible about privacy and security constraints, including possibilities to blur or reduce resolution at sensitive sites.
Local vs. Global: The Data Center Question
The location of map data storage matters in the governance equation. Google’s approach of hosting data outside Korea faces longer-term regulatory scrutiny over data sovereignty. Apple’s potential preference for local servers could offer quicker oversight by Korean authorities and simplify incident response, but also raises questions about how access and encryption keys are managed across borders.
Both tech giants argue that higher-resolution mapping can fuel growth in smart cities, autonomous transportation, and tourism. Local navigation apps—Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map—already benefit from finer detail at 1:5,000 scale, and expanding access to foreign platforms could heighten competitive dynamics in Korea’s robust digital map market.
Public Interest, Tourism, and Economic Impact
Advocates say exporting high-resolution maps could unlock opportunities for tourism, education, and small businesses by enabling more precise location-based services and augmented reality experiences. For a country with a technical edge and a war-threat context with the North, secure data-sharing practices are seen by supporters as a way to maintain strategic flexibility while leveraging global innovation pipelines.
Critics counter that the primary beneficiaries may be U.S.-based tech giants at the expense of domestic firms and privacy-safety safeguards. Critics call for transparent approval processes, clearer restrictions on sensitive installations, and explicit commitments to data localization, blurring, or resolution reduction where necessary.
What Comes Next
With a decision expected around November 11, the government’s ruling will shape how Korea negotiates high-stakes geospatial data in a world where map data underpins everything from delivery routes to drone logistics. The outcome could influence not only how foreign tech platforms operate in Korea but also how the country protects its security while embracing smart-city ambitions.
Conclusion
South Korea stands at a crossroads between security and innovation. A careful, transparent decision on exporting high-resolution map data will determine whether global map platforms can strengthen Korea’s digital ecosystem or whether the country will insist on stricter localization and robust safeguards to defend national security interests.
