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Google Submits Revised Map Data Plan to South Korea Amid Security Review

Google has submitted additional documents to South Korea's transport ministry by the government's deadline, addressing conditions like masking sensitive security facilities. The submission does not include plans for a local data center, and a final government decision is expected to take several months. This follows a suspended review since November after an initial application was deemed insufficient. South Korea has previously rejected similar Google requests in 2007 and 2016 over national security concerns.

Key Points: Google Submits Documents for Korea High-Precision Map Data Transfer

  • Submitted documents by deadline
  • Addressed security facility masking
  • No concrete local data center plan
  • Review suspended since November
  • Previous requests rejected
2 min read

Google submits additional documents to Seoul on map data transfer

Google meets Seoul's deadline with revised plans for overseas map data transfer, addressing security concerns. Government review to take months.

"The government plans to convene an interagency meeting to decide whether to approve the overseas transfer - Transport Ministry Official"

Seoul, Feb 6

Google has submitted additional documents requested by the South Korean government regarding the overseas transfer of South Korea's high-precision map data, industry sources and government officials said on Friday.

The U.S. technology giant emailed supplementary materials to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday, the deadline set by the government for revisions to its earlier application for the data transfer, reports Yonhap news agency.

The additional submission is said to have met most of the conditions sought by the government, including measures to mask sensitive domestic security facilities and restrict the exposure of precise coordinates, informed sources said.

The documents also reportedly include technical explanations detailing how Google would process and manage the map data going forward. However, they do not contain concrete plans to establish a data centre in South Korea, according to the sources.

"The government plans to convene an interagency meeting to decide whether to approve the overseas transfer of the high-precision map data after reviewing the newly submitted materials," an official from the transport ministry said, while speaking on condition of anonymity.

A final decision is expected to take several months.

Google filed its latest request in February 2025, seeking approval for the transfer of 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas data centres.

In November, however, a government consultative panel requested that the company submit revised documents by Feb. 5, suspending the review process until then.

The panel said Google had expressed willingness to comply with South Korea's security requirements, including removing coordinate data for the country from its maps, but such measures were not reflected in the documents initially submitted.

Currently, Google provides map services in South Korea using publicly available 1:25,000-scale map data combined with aerial and satellite imagery. The United States has previously cited restrictions on high-precision map data as a key non-tariff barrier.

Google made similar requests to export high-precision map data in 2007 and 2016, but South Korea had rejected them, citing national security concerns over the potential exposure of military bases and other sensitive facilities.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good on South Korea for holding firm! 🇰🇷 National security should always come before corporate convenience. I hope our Indian regulators are watching and learning. We must protect our sensitive geographical data with equal, if not greater, vigilance.
R
Rohit P
As a developer, I get the need for precise data for better apps and services. But the "no data centre in South Korea" part is telling. If they want the data, they should invest in local infrastructure. That's a fair ask.
S
Sarah B
It's a tricky balance. On one hand, better maps help tourism and local businesses. On the other, you can't compromise security. The masking of sensitive facilities seems like a sensible middle ground, if implemented properly.
V
Vikram M
The US calling it a "non-tariff barrier" is rich. It's not a trade issue, it's a security issue. Every nation has the right to protect its critical assets. Google has been trying since 2007? They are nothing if not persistent.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while security is paramount, there is also a cost to over-protectionism. Delayed access to high-precision mapping can hold back innovation in areas like autonomous vehicles and smart city planning. Hope they find a secure yet progressive solution.
M
Meera T

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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