South Korea opens the door for Google Maps to be fully functional

After years of complaints, Google has received official permission to export high-quality data from South Korea, a move that opens the door for the company to offer relevant Google Maps services in the country, such as navigation and real-time driving directions.

The move reverses a long-standing policy of banning restrictions that prevented Google Maps and Apple Maps from working in the country. Google has so far provided mapping services in South Korea using high-resolution maps, 1:5,000, but without the ability to send this data to its servers, the company could not provide features such as directions or detailed business listings.

South Korea has rejected Google’s complaints since 2011, saying the company’s virtual maps could put national security at risk by showing military locations when combined with commercial and Internet images. Since South Korea is still at war with North Korea, the government is wary of revealing such sites, and has so far ordered Google to set up data centers in the country and hide sensitive sites.

The green light comes with strict rules designed to protect areas affected by the military and infrastructure. The South Korean government will ensure compliance with all laws before exiting the country; any images of the South Korean area used in Google Maps and Google Earth must comply with national security laws; and old images in Google Earth and Street View should hide military sites of interest. Google is also required to remove or limit the data of South Korean regions, and only data necessary for navigation and navigation can be exported.

The government also wants data processing to be done on servers managed by Google’s partners. Military and military information remains off-limits, and any military or security updates must be promptly processed on home servers upon government request.

Google did not return a request for comment.

The move will undoubtedly send waves into the Korean housing market, which has seen local navigation apps like Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map thrive in the absence of providers like Google or Apple.

In its announcement, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that the decision was affected by its goal to promote tourism in the country – because Google Maps has so far proved useless in Korea, tourists have to rely on local apps, whether they provide it or not.

The ministry said the move is also aimed at boosting the country’s geospatial market by supporting the development of high-tech, 3D architecture and geo AI technologies. The government is encouraging Google to help expand South Korea’s geospatial market so that exports not only benefit the tech giant, but also domestic technology and economic growth.

Google has yet to say whether it will set up a data center in South Korea. The company works list of data centers in Asia, including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The government also outlined new measures to deal with potential security risks associated with high-resolution mapping. The ministry said it will work with Google to set up a “crisis prevention and response system” to deal with potential threats before they get out of the country. For reasons that threaten national security, a technical system of “red button” will be implemented, which will help to respond quickly.

In addition, South Korea will require a senior official to be stationed in the country to maintain constant communication with the government and ensure proper management of any security situation.