Kakao Map showing detailed North Korean geographical data goes viral online
South Korean map service Kakao Map’s detailed geographical data of North Korea went viral online recently, as the information had previously been blocked on South Korean apps. Many users on X, formerly Twitter, shared posts Monday saying they found it surprising that Kakao Map includes detailed data about North Korea. “Kakao Map shows us Pyongyang. I feel like I have been there,” a user wrote. The reactions reflect the decade-long censorship against North Korean information. Due to the fact that the two Koreas are technically at war and other political reasons, South Koreans have long been prevented from accessing information about the North. For instance, if a South Korean comes into contact with someone from the North, they are required to report it to the government. A Korea Times reporter using Kakao Map found that anyone can zoom in and zoom out to see the names of North Korean mountains, railway stops and universities. While the reporter was not able to search the app by searching place names, by simply moving the cursor, details on the map could easily be reviewed. Kakao, the
