South Korea is weeks away from deciding whether Google and Apple can export detailed map data overseas, marking a potential breakthrough in a years-long regulatory standoff. The decision, expected by November 11, could reshape navigation services across Asia's fourth-largest economy while testing the balance between national security and digital innovation.
The clock is ticking in Seoul. Google and Apple are closer than ever to securing something they've pursued for over a decade: access to South Korea's high-resolution map data. But this week's parliamentary grilling of Google Korea executives shows the road ahead remains bumpy.
During Tuesday's National Assembly Defense Committee hearing, lawmakers grilled Google representatives about their mapping ambitions, zeroing in on national security risks. The tension was palpable as committee members questioned whether detailed maps could expose military installations to North Korean surveillance. "We're dealing with a country technically still at war," one lawmaker emphasized, according to government transcripts.
The stakes aren't just about better directions to Seoul's best bibimbap joints. These companies want 1:5,000 scale maps that reveal building footprints, alleyways, and street-level precision that's currently exclusive to domestic apps like Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map. Right now, Google operates with 1:25,000 scale data that makes Korean navigation feel like using a tourist brochure from the 1990s.
This regulatory dance started in earnest back in February when Google made its third formal request to Korea's National Geographic Information Institute. Previous attempts in 2011 and 2016 crashed into the same wall: Seoul demanded Google build local data centers and blur sensitive sites. Google walked away both times rather than meet those conditions.
But something shifted after August's rejection. Google reportedly agreed to obscure military installations on Google Maps and Google Earth, and started exploring partnerships with local data providers like T Map. The company's newfound flexibility suggests they've finally grasped how seriously Seoul takes geospatial security.
Apple entered the fray in June with its own 1:5,000 scale request, building on a 2023 application that was initially turned down. The Cupertino giant might have an ace up its sleeve - they already operate local servers in Korea, which could ease government concerns about data sovereignty. Reports suggest is also more willing to accept government restrictions on sensitive locations.
