Seoul considers approving high-resolution map requests from Google and Apple

South Korea is nearing a decision on whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data to servers outside the country. Detailed maps using a scale of 1:5,000 show roads, buildings, and alleys in far more detail than is currently available on these platforms. However, some regulatory and security hurdles remain unresolved.

Earlier this week, the South Korean National Assembly Defense Committee conducted a national audit of Google Korea. Lawmakers questioned the company’s request for regional mapping data, raising concerns about national security and digital sovereignty. The session comes two months after the South Korean government postponed a decision on a request to export Google’s high-resolution map data to August, following a postponement in May.

One policymaker has warned that Google’s satellite maps, when combined with commercial imagery and online data, could expose sensitive military locations and jeopardize national security. He is calling on the government to gain powers to monitor and regulate the export of high-resolution geographic information. Considering that South Korea is effectively at war with North Korea, the government is cautious about revealing such locations.

The government’s final decision on Google Maps is expected to be made around November 11th, or sooner, a South Korean government official told TechCrunch. Last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the review period would be extended for another 60 days.

In February, for the third time in South Korea, Google requested permission from the National Geographic Information Institute of Korea to allow its app to use 1:5,000 scale maps, which provide more detailed information, and to transfer the map data to servers outside South Korea. Currently, Google uses 1:25,000 scale maps that include landmarks and satellite images. Local navigation apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map are the most popular among local users. These apps provide map data at a 1:5,000 scale, providing more information and detail, giving you a huge competitive advantage.

South Korean authorities denied Google’s requests for access to the country’s mapping data in 2011 and again in 2016. Citing security concerns, officials clarified that approval depends on the company opening on-site data centers and concealing sensitive locations, including national security facilities. Google refused to meet these conditions.

Google reportedly agreed to hide the location of the country’s security hubs on Google Maps and Google Earth after South Korea refused approval in August. The company has been blurring sensitive facilities to address government concerns over satellite imagery and is reportedly considering purchasing government-approved satellite data from local providers including T Map.

Google did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

According to South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act (Article 16), government survey data such as maps and satellite images cannot be transmitted overseas without approval from the entire Cabinet. The law, enacted in 2014, continues to underpin the country’s strict control over geospatial data.

Map data is a sensitive national security issue in conflict zones around the world. The Israeli military has asked Google Maps to turn off real-time traffic data for Israel and the Gaza Strip in 2023, as it did for Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. And in 2009, European regulators asked Google to remove the original Street View images, citing privacy concerns.

Apple follows Google in seeking South Korean map data

Google isn’t the only company making moves. In June, Apple requested that South Korea export high-resolution map data at a scale of 1:5,000. This was after the first request in 2023 was rejected.

Google has its map servers outside South Korea, while Apple operates servers in the country, a distinction the government weighs when reviewing requests. Local servers allow authorities to quickly respond to security concerns on sensitive sites.

Last month, South Korea postponed a decision on Apple’s permit to export high-definition digital map data, postponing the review to December.

Apple may reportedly be more flexible than Google in complying with government-imposed restrictions, such as blurring, masking, and lowering resolution of sensitive sites. The company is also said to be planning to use SK Telecom’s T Map as its primary basemap data source.

Apple did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

Google and Apple are upgrading their maps with detailed building site, alley, and precise street-level data to enhance navigation, and could also support advanced technologies such as self-driving cars and drone delivery. For South Korea, exporting high-resolution map data could boost tourism, promote local businesses, and promote smart city innovation, while giving the government leverage to strengthen security measures. But critics have warned that the move could primarily benefit U.S. tech giants rather than domestic users.

According to the report, Google Maps has a wider global reach covering 250 countries and territories, while Apple Maps is available in over 200 regions.

Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act was passed in 1970. The current version of the law, enacted on June 3, 2014, provides a framework related to its structure and provisions, including restrictions on the export of geospatial data.