Although South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, it is still one of the few countries where Google Maps cannot provide comprehensive navigation and real-time travel directions, along with China and North Korea. At the heart of the issue is whether Google should be allowed to export South Korea's detailed map data to its overseas servers.
A government committee made up of officials from South Korea's defense, foreign affairs, transportation and intelligence agencies again delayed a decision, citing the need for further review of national security risks and its wider industry implications. The review period has been extended for a second time to 2025, and the final ruling will be postponed until October.
Google's request specifically seeks permission to export high-precision maps at a scale of 1:5,000, which would be able to identify individual buildings, alleys and terrain features, with 1 centimeter on the map actually representing 50 meters. The South Korean government has long argued that such data could reveal the location of sensitive sites, including military bases and critical infrastructure, which remains a major concern given ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea’s map data is managed by local portal giants Naver and Kakao, whose platforms dominate the digital space. These companies offer comprehensive mapping, search, and payment services, but all map data is stored on domestic servers.
In South Korea, Google Maps lacks walking directions (left). While it can update public transit routes in real time, the walking portion only shows rough dashed lines and no detailed turn-by-turn navigation (right). Source: "Korea Herald"
This limitation means that Google can only display low-detail South Korean maps at a scale of 1:25,000, preventing users from obtaining real-time routes. Naver and Kakao have responded to Google's actions by upgrading their respective apps, expanding multi-language support and adding features such as step-by-step navigation guides for foreigners and deeper integration with local merchants.
The lack of globally standardized mapping tools has impacted the tourism industry. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, complaints about app navigation issues increased 71% last year, with Google Maps accounting for 30%.
Travelers often complain about difficulty finding destinations, switching between apps, and dealing with language restrictions. Tech advocates claim the restrictions also stifle innovation among South Korean startups, making it harder to develop travel and location-based services with international reach.
Visitors to South Korea often have trouble finding their destinations due to limited live map apps.
Korean industry groups remain strongly opposed to Google's request, with 90% of companies in the digital map industry expressing opposition due to concerns about foreign companies consolidating the market.
Kim Seok-jong, president of the Korean Spatial Information Surveying and Mapping Association, told the Guardian: “The government must listen to the concerns of the industry.” He warned that if Google controls the domestic map market, it may have a devastating blow to the entire industry.
The dispute has also become part of ongoing trade negotiations between South Korea and the United States. Washington has described the map restrictions as "non-tariff barriers" and argued for loosening rules on cross-border data flows within broader economic discussions.
During the delay, the government offered Google alternatives, including operating domestic data centers, an approach already taken by local rivals, but Google insisted this would not meet the technical requirements of its global server integration.