By Kim Hyo-jin
The minor opposition People’s Party said Thursday that Google should not be allowed to use the country’s map data for commercial purposes because it could undermine national security and disadvantage local firms.
It called on the government to reject Google’s request.
“Considering the special circumstances on the peninsula, the government should be cautious in selling detailed map data, viewing it as an asset for national security,” Rep. Shin Yong-hyeon said during a party meeting.
“Also, there are suspicions that Google does not operate a data center in South Korea in order to evade tax. If we provide our map data to Google, it is not fair for local businesses that duly abide by regulations.”
Rep. Park Jie-won, the party’s floor leader, said he will deliver the party’s stance to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The remarks came a week before the government is scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss whether to allow Google to use the nation’s detailed map data.
In June, the U.S. firm asked for permission to access 1:5,000 scale map data, the most detailed available, as part of efforts to upgrade its Google Maps service in Korea. Its current mapping service only provides limited features based on data from SK Telecom’s T-Map.
The request fueled controversy because Google opposes the government’s call to remove the country’s military-sensitive information from satellite images offered overseas.
The government has been cautious about releasing map information on key military facilities as the country remains technically at war with North Korea.
A Google request made in 2010 was rejected for the same reason.
The second-largest opposition party backed critics, saying the country could be vulnerable to security threats if the 1:5,000 scale map data is combined with the current Google satellite map.
Rep. Shin, who is leading opinion in the party, noted that if the firm wants to access the data it should abide by local regulations. They allow access to the map data if a firm has a data center in the country or forms a partnership with local firms providing mapping services.
“It’s not like the country bans the access unconditionally,” she said. “If its intention is not about avoiding corporate taxes it should follow the domestic rules.”
Amid deepened controversy, the government is scheduled to deliver its decision this month after a meeting of the consultative body that includes the transport ministry’s National Geographic Information Institute, the defense and ICT ministries, and the National Intelligence Service next Friday.
The law stipulates that a decision on a request for a map data license should be made within 60 days.
The National Assembly plans to hold the first discussion session Monday over the effects providing the map data will have on the domestic information industry.
In the session, arranged by lawmakers affiliated with the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Kwon Beom-joon, Google Maps product manager and a software engineer at Google Korea, will present the firm’s stance.