South Korea moves to allow full operation of Google Maps

After years of repeated requests, Google has received conditional approval to export high-precision geographic data from South Korea, a decision that could finally enable Google Maps to deliver full functionality in the country, including walking routes and real-time driving directions.

The decision reverses a long-standing restriction on mapping data exports that has effectively limited Google Maps and Apple Maps in South Korea. To date, Google has provided map services in the country using high-resolution 1:5,000-scale map data. Still, because it could not export that information to overseas servers, it has been unable to provide turn-by-turn navigation, robust routing features, or the detailed business listings commonly available in other markets.

South Korea has pushed back against Google’s requests, citing national security concerns that accurate satellite maps could reveal sensitive military locations when combined with commercial imagery and publicly available online information. With South Korea still technically at war with North Korea, the government has taken a cautious stance toward exposing precise geographic detail. For years, officials had demanded that Google build a domestic data centre and obscure sensitive facilities as conditions for broader access.

The newly granted approval includes strict safeguards to protect critical military and infrastructure sites. Before any high-precision data can leave the country, the government will verify that the requirements are being followed. Any imagery of South Korean territory displayed in Google Maps and Google Earth must comply with national security rules, and historical imagery in Google Earth and Street View must be blurred or obscured to protect sensitive military areas. Google will also be required to remove or restrict coordinate information for South Korean locations, and only the essential data needed for navigation and routing can be exported.

South Korea is also requiring that all processing be carried out on servers operated by Google’s local partners. Sensitive topographic and military information remains prohibited from export, and the government says updates involving military or security sites must be implemented quickly on domestic servers when requested.

The change is expected to ripple through South Korea’s domestic mapping and navigation market, where local apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map have grown strong in the absence of fully functional offerings from major global players like Google and Apple.

In its announcement, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the decision was shaped in part by a goal of boosting tourism. Because Google Maps has been limited in Korea, visitors have often relied on local navigation apps, even when those apps may not provide strong English-language support.

The ministry also said the move is intended to strengthen the country’s geospatial industry by supporting development in high-precision and 3D infrastructure mapping, as well as geo AI technologies. The government is urging Google to play a role in growing South Korea’s geospatial sector so that exporting map data contributes not only to Google’s services but also to domestic innovation and broader economic impact.

Google has not yet said whether it plans to build a data centre in South Korea. The company already operates multiple data centres across Asia, including in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The government also outlined new steps to address potential security risks associated with exporting high-resolution maps. The ministry said it will work with Google to establish a “security incident prevention and response framework” to evaluate and manage risks before any data is transferred out of the country. For scenarios involving immediate national security threats, officials said a technical “red button” mechanism will be implemented to enable rapid emergency action.

Additionally, South Korea will require a local officer to be stationed in-country to maintain continuous communication with the government and ensure that any security-related issues can be handled quickly and smoothly.