South Korea Nears Decision on Google, Apple 1:5,000 High-Resolution Map Exports — Security, Sovereignty at Stake
South Korea is edging toward a high-stakes decision on whether to permit Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data — detailed 1:5,000-scale maps that show streets, building footprints and alleyways with far greater clarity than the 1:25,000 scale currently used by Google. Officials say the request could unlock benefits for navigation, smart cities and advanced services like autonomous vehicles, but regulators remain cautious because of unresolved security, legal and sovereignty issues. A government official told TechCrunch that a final ruling on Google’s application is expected around November 11, though earlier action is possible.
The debate turned sharply political this month after the National Assembly Defense Committee summoned Google Korea for a parliamentary audit, where lawmakers pressed the company over risks to national security and digital sovereignty. Seoul has repeatedly delayed decisions — most recently in August — and rejected similar requests in 2011 and 2016, saying any approval would require strong safeguards such as blurring sensitive sites and storing some data locally. Lawmakers and defense policymakers warn that combining high-resolution maps with commercial imagery and online information could expose military installations at a time when South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea.
Google’s renewed February request asked the Korean National Geographic Information Institute for permission to use 1:5,000 base maps in its app and to transfer that data to servers outside South Korea. Google currently relies on a 1:25,000 scale map that, while useful, lacks the granular detail of local competitors. Domestic navigation services — Naver Map, T Map and Kakao Map — already operate at 1:5,000 and enjoy a competitive edge because of the richer data; proponents of opening exports argue that allowing global platforms similar access could boost tourism, local commerce and interoperability across apps and devices.
Apple has followed suit: after an initial 2023 denial, the company requested in June to export 1:5,000-scale map data. Apple differs from Google in that it operates some local servers in Korea — a factor Seoul is weighing because locally hosted servers can be more quickly controlled or restricted if sensitive sites are identified. Reports indicate Apple may be more willing than Google to accept government-imposed limitations such as blurring or reduced resolution for sensitive locations and to use SK Telecom’s T Map as a base map, while Google has explored purchasing government-approved satellite data and agreed to blur some security sites after August’s rejection.
At the heart of the matter is South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act (Article 16), enacted in its current form on June 3, 2014, which bars export of government survey data and satellite imagery without Cabinet approval. Regulators must balance the economic and technological upside — smarter navigation, improved map features, opportunities for drone logistics and smart-city projects — against legitimate security concerns and the domestic tech sector’s competitive position. Critics argue that easing exports may mainly advantage large U.S. tech firms unless safeguards and local benefits are enforced. With the review clock running and public scrutiny high, Seoul’s decision will signal how far it is willing to open its geospatial assets while keeping strategic locations protected.
source: Techcrunch