Google has submitted additional documents to the South Korean government as part of its request to transfer the country’s high-precision map data overseas, according to industry sources and government officials.
The U.S. technology company sent the revised materials to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday, meeting the deadline set by the government to address concerns raised during an earlier review. The submission is part of Google’s ongoing effort to gain approval to move South Korea’s detailed map data to its overseas data centres.
Sources familiar with the matter said the new documents satisfy most of the conditions requested by the government. These reportedly include steps to mask sensitive security facilities and limit the exposure of exact geographic coordinates. The materials also explain how Google would handle and manage the map data from a technical standpoint once transferred.
However, the updated submission does not include a concrete plan to build a data centre in South Korea, which has been a key issue in past discussions. A government official said authorities will now review the newly submitted materials and hold an interagency meeting to decide whether to approve the overseas transfer. A final decision is expected to take several months.
Google filed its latest application in February 2025, seeking permission to export 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data. In November, a government consultative panel paused the review process and asked the company to revise its documents by early February, saying its initial submission did not fully reflect promised security measures.
At present, Google operates map services in South Korea using less detailed 1:25,000-scale public map data combined with aerial and satellite imagery. The United States has previously criticized South Korea’s restrictions on high-precision map exports, calling them a non-tariff trade barrier.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
South Korea has rejected similar requests from Google in 2007 and 2016, citing national security risks related to the possible exposure of military bases and other sensitive facilities. The current review signals a cautious but ongoing evaluation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as it weighs security concerns against global data and technology practices.
