Korea conditionally approves Google request to export map data

Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., Feb. 5 / AFP-Yonhap

The government on Friday approved Google's request to transfer Korea's high-definition map data outside the country while also requiring the U.S. tech giant to implement additional safeguards.

A consultative body consisting of seven Korean ministries and private advisers held a meeting at the National Geographic Information Institute in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and finalized the approval.

The decision to export the 1:5,000 scale map came after Google filed its latest request in February 2025. Korea had rejected similar requests by Google in 2007 and 2016, citing national security concerns that sensitive facilities, such as military bases, could be exposed.

It is the first time Korea has allowed a foreign company access to high-precision map data.

A key condition for Google to accept is requiring its partner firms in Korea to use servers here when processing the map’s raw data, for security purposes. The edited map must also be approved by the Korean government before being transferred outside the country.

The map’s usage by Google is also limited to navigation and direction services. The condition requires Google to station at least one “local responsible officer” in Korea.

Other conditions require Google to use the map in videos filtered by security measures and erase all military and security facilities. Coordinates above the map must be removed as well. The Google partner in Korea must promptly comply with the Korean government to apply any changes to the map.

Google must also introduce a framework of preventive measures and countermeasures. Noncompliance with those conditions, the government said, will result in a halt to the map’s provision.

Korea initially demanded that Google set up data centers in the country, arguing that doing so would allow the company to provide services without transferring high-precision map data overseas.

However, by allowing Google to process the data through local partners, the tech giant is now able to ease its administrative obligations by dispersing liability in the event of a security breach.

A map of Korea and neighboring countries on Google Maps / Screen capture from Google

The issue of transferring precision map data has often been cited in Washington's long-standing claim that Seoul is setting up nontariff trade barrier in digital sectors.

The requests have gained particular importance in recent weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s "reciprocal" tariffs unlawful, prompting the administration to move forward with plans to impose tariffs based on trade investigations under Section 301, which allows the U.S. to take action when it determines a trading partner has engaged in unfair practices.

Against this backdrop, the Korean government's map export decision is expected to mitigate trade tensions between the two countries.

Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of Knowledge & Information Products, said that he welcomes the decision.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to showcase the capabilities of Google Maps in Korea, a country that leads the world with its outstanding technological leadership,” he said in a statement in Korean.

“This decision marks a significant step forward, and Google looks forward to supporting Korea’s growth by closely cooperating with the government and domestic partners while developing detailed plans for service implementation."

American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim also said, “We view the government’s decision on allowing the overseas transfer of Google’s high-precision map data as a constructive step toward further strengthening Korea’s competitiveness as a global digital powerhouse.”

However, the decision is expected to deal a blow to domestic tech giants Naver and Kakao, which enjoy dominant positions in Korea’s map service market. Industry officials have argued that Google has been subject to relatively light corporate taxation in Korea due to the absence of a permanent base in the country, and that it would be unfair to provide access to map data built with substantial taxpayer money.