South Korea Finally Lets Google Maps Work After 18 Years of Blocking It

South Korea has approved Google's request to export detailed geographic data, reversing a longstanding restriction that rendered Google Maps largely useless in the country. After 18 years of blocking, Korean citizens and international visitors may finally get turn-by-turn navigation from Google.

18 Years of Digital Isolation

Unlike in most countries, Google Maps in South Korea has never provided real-time driving or walking directions, nor detailed business listings. Instead, most South Koreans rely on domestic mapping apps from tech conglomerates Naver and Kakao to navigate their daily lives.

Google first introduced its map service to South Korea in 2008 and made its first public request for map data in 2016. The government consistently refused, citing national security concerns about exporting detailed geographic information.

Why Now?

Two forces converged. The Trump administration has been pressuring South Korea not to discriminate against U.S. technology companies through regulation, including restrictions on location data. And South Korea's Transport Ministry said its decision was influenced by interest in promoting tourism and supporting the economy.

Under the new arrangement, Google can export map data from its South Korean servers to its global data centers — but military sites and other sensitive locations will be excluded from the exports.

The Local Competition Is Worried

"While Naver and Kakao currently lead the market, there is a fear that Google's global platform will eventually overtake them," said An Jong-wook, president of the Korea Spatial Information Society. "Domestic spatial information companies could be relegated to being mere subcontractors for Google."

But others see a silver lining. "Google Maps will allow for more competition that will improve all of the other map-based services," said Seokho Daniel Yoon, who runs travel platform Daytrip Korea.

The Bottom Line

For 18 years, South Korea kept Google Maps hobbled in the name of national security. Whether this was genuine security concern or protectionism for domestic tech giants, the result is the same: Korean consumers finally get a choice. The question is whether Naver and Kakao can compete when the playing field is level.

Source: The New York Times