By Lee Min-hyung
Calls are growing that the government should disallow Google's attempt to obtain map images in Korea, amid speculation that the search engine giant seeks to generate more revenue while pushing for aggressive tax-dodging techniques here.
This comes as the company officially requested the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) to approve its plan to host the nation's geographic data overseas, last month. This was the firm's second attempt since it requested a similar request to the Korean government in 2007.
But the government stood in the way of the initiative, allowing the plan only if the company agrees to blur map data for some politically and militarily sensitive areas as a precondition.
This is in contrast to Google's official position to request approvals to use the nation's satellite map information without blurring.
"The Ministry of National Defense remains very careful over the issue, due to the nation's unique position on the security issue," Defense Minister Han Min-koo told a National Assembly session, Wednesday. "That's why we request other security-related government agencies to approve Google's plan only when the firm accepts our precondition."
Critics argue that the government should come up with tougher sanctions over the firm's businesses here, given previous controversies it has caused ― including the suspicion of tax evasion. They said Google hopes to be free from any local regulations by not establishing any data centers here, which helps the firm be unrestricted by local laws.
Google Korea, however, dispelled the concern.
"We do not establish any data-managing facilities in Korea, as we operate cloud-based services globally," said an official from Google Korea. "The absence of data centers here is not aimed at evading taxes. We are complying with the Korean tax system."
Google has sought to receive legal rights to access the nation's map data for its Google Maps service, which includes three-dimensional (3D) satellite maps, traffic information and navigation services.
Google Maps is one of the popular map services across the world, but the government's regulation is allowing the company to provide some limited and inaccurate 2D information, due to its failure to access up-to-date geographical data.
The plan, if approved, is also expected to cause a reverse discrimination against local map service operators ― including Naver, Kakao and SK Telecom ― all of which agreed to censor geographical information on some key national security facilities.
Google, however, countered such concerns by saying that the company aims to export government-approved map data.
Google has expressed regret over the controversy, as the nation's tough regulations are getting in the way of business operations of foreign companies.
The government, for its part, is set to revamp some unnecessary regulations after a special committee formed in 2014 reports its conclusions.
The committee plans to make a final decision in August over the Google request, after an in-depth discussion with relevant government bodies ― including the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Service.
Calls are growing that the government should disallow Google's attempt to obtain map images in Korea, amid speculation that the search engine giant seeks to generate more revenue while pushing for aggressive tax-dodging techniques here.
This comes as the company officially requested the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) to approve its plan to host the nation's geographic data overseas, last month. This was the firm's second attempt since it requested a similar request to the Korean government in 2007.
But the government stood in the way of the initiative, allowing the plan only if the company agrees to blur map data for some politically and militarily sensitive areas as a precondition.
This is in contrast to Google's official position to request approvals to use the nation's satellite map information without blurring.
"The Ministry of National Defense remains very careful over the issue, due to the nation's unique position on the security issue," Defense Minister Han Min-koo told a National Assembly session, Wednesday. "That's why we request other security-related government agencies to approve Google's plan only when the firm accepts our precondition."
Critics argue that the government should come up with tougher sanctions over the firm's businesses here, given previous controversies it has caused ― including the suspicion of tax evasion. They said Google hopes to be free from any local regulations by not establishing any data centers here, which helps the firm be unrestricted by local laws.
Google Korea, however, dispelled the concern.
"We do not establish any data-managing facilities in Korea, as we operate cloud-based services globally," said an official from Google Korea. "The absence of data centers here is not aimed at evading taxes. We are complying with the Korean tax system."
Google has sought to receive legal rights to access the nation's map data for its Google Maps service, which includes three-dimensional (3D) satellite maps, traffic information and navigation services.
Google Maps is one of the popular map services across the world, but the government's regulation is allowing the company to provide some limited and inaccurate 2D information, due to its failure to access up-to-date geographical data.
The plan, if approved, is also expected to cause a reverse discrimination against local map service operators ― including Naver, Kakao and SK Telecom ― all of which agreed to censor geographical information on some key national security facilities.
Google, however, countered such concerns by saying that the company aims to export government-approved map data.
Google has expressed regret over the controversy, as the nation's tough regulations are getting in the way of business operations of foreign companies.
The government, for its part, is set to revamp some unnecessary regulations after a special committee formed in 2014 reports its conclusions.
The committee plans to make a final decision in August over the Google request, after an in-depth discussion with relevant government bodies ― including the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Service.
![[INTERVIEW] How Frank Wildhorn became most popular musical composer in Korea](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/aa01bf883001442494bf0555432fe510.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Yoon Doo-joon juggles music and acting for series 'Never Give Up'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/0fa71782b12f47c78c1f88a1986e5b9f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
