South Korea allows Google to export map data after years of frustration over Google Maps

Mountains are visible through the trees in Jeongseon, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s government on Friday said it will allow Google to export detailed mapping data of the country to overseas servers under certain security requirements, responding to years of frustration by foreign travellers who found that Google Maps didn’t work effectively in the country.

After a review by government officials and private experts, authorities approved Google’s request to export 1:5,000-scale, high-precision map data on the condition that it implements security safeguards, such as limiting transfers to data necessary for navigation services and excluding contour lines and other sensitive information.

South Korean officials for years had rejected requests by foreign tech companies such as Google and Apple to transfer detailed mapping data to overseas servers, often citing security concerns, such as the risk that rival North Korea could exploit sensitive geographic information.

Google will have to process the data first on domestic servers and receive government clearance before exporting it, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said. Officials also required Google to remove coordinates from South Korean territory and blur satellite and aerial images of military and other sensitive sites in time-series services such as Google Earth and Street View.

Google will be required to employ a compliance officer in South Korea to handle map export issues, and the government may suspend or revoke the approval if the company fails to comply with the conditions, the ministry said.

In an e-mailed statement, Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, said the company “welcomes today’s decision and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring fully functioning Google Maps to Korea.”

South Korea’s restrictions have made it one of the few countries where the globally dominant Google Maps has limited use, with locals mostly relying on the services of South Korean internet companies like Naver and Kakao.

Besides security issues, there have also been concerns about the business impact on domestic firms. Some experts in favor of the restrictions have argued that control over national mapping data has become a matter of “sovereignty,” as it underpins emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and data-driven “smart cities.”

Critics say the restrictions hinder innovation and could be undermining tourism, citing complaints from foreign visitors. In South Korea, Google Maps lacks full walking and driving directions.

Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press