South Korea allows Google to export map data

ISTANBUL

South Korea on Friday allowed Google to transfer government-supplied high-precision map data to the company’s overseas facilities, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport made the decision after meeting with officials from foreign, defense and other related ministries.

"We approved the overseas transfer on condition that Google strictly comply with security guidelines," said the ministry, adding that the conditions include measures to mask sensitive facilities, restrict the exposure of precise coordinates and use local servers to process data.

With regard to data handling, the government asked Google to process raw information at its domestic partner’s data center in South Korea, permitting only map data related to navigation services to be sent abroad.

The ministry emphasized that sensitive materials, such as contour lines, cannot be transferred overseas.

Google must also appoint a local representative to liaise with authorities and respond swiftly to any potential security issues.

"We welcome today's decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea," said Cris Turner, Google’s vice president for government affairs and public policy, in a statement.

The approval follows two denials by Seoul in 2007 and 2016 for security concerns.

In February 2025, Google submitted a new request seeking permission to transfer 1:5,000-scale high-resolution map data to its overseas data centers.

This time, the company indicated it would comply with South Korea’s security standards by removing coordinate data for the country from its maps and obscuring images of designated sensitive sites.

Google’s South Korean maps rely on publicly available 1:25,000-scale data supplemented by aerial and satellite imagery.

The company has maintained that access to government-provided map data is crucial for delivering comprehensive mapping features, such as vehicle navigation and driving directions, in one of the world’s most digitally connected countries.