On the 27th, the government conditionally approved the overseas transfer of Google's 1-to-5,000 scale high-precision map data, effectively putting an end to the "map dispute" that has lasted for nearly 20 years. As Google Maps' core features, provided in most countries around the world except North Korea, will now be available in Korea, the domestic location-based services industry is entering global competition.
A 1-to-5,000 scale map is high-precision data that represents 1 centimeter on the map as 50 meters in actual distance. Beyond simple map displays, it serves as foundational infrastructure for advanced location-based services such as directions, public transit guidance, integration with store and review information, and mobility route optimization. Until now, Google has offered only basic display services using restricted data that passed government security reviews, which led to Korea being effectively categorized as a "Google Maps exception country."
With this approval, Google has opened a path to implement map services in Korea at the same level as its global offering. For foreign tourists, it means they can use directions and transportation information on a familiar platform, and both domestic startups and global corporations can now expand services based on the Google Maps API (application programming interface). Ripple effects are expected across industries that rely on map data as core infrastructure, including mobility, logistics, delivery, and travel platforms.
Google expressed thanks for the government's decision. Cris Turner, vice president of knowledge and information for public policy and government affairs at Google, said, "We welcome the Korean government's decision and are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase the capabilities of Google Maps in Korea," adding, "We will work closely with the government and domestic partners to establish concrete service implementation plans and fulfill our role as a responsible partner in Korea's digital ecosystem."
In particular, its potential linkage with next-generation industries such as Autonomous Driving, Smart City, digital twin, and spatial artificial intelligence (AI) is drawing attention. High-precision geospatial information is a strategic asset that can be used as AI training data beyond simple navigation. For Google, it effectively secures a foundation to advance services by combining map data with its AI models.
Park Seung-gyu, a professor in the department of public administration at Changwon National University, said, "Opening up map data will boost the global competitiveness of domestic corporations and serve as an opportunity to strengthen the nation's status in the digital economy," adding, "It will also resolve digital isolation and weakening international competitiveness, expand industrial and economic value, and be evaluated as a policy in line with the global standard."
Changes are also expected for the tourism industry. Kim Deuk-kab, a professor at the Institute for East and West Studies at Yonsei University, said, "The advanced services of Google Maps will drastically improve travel convenience for foreign visitors to Korea, serving as a powerful catalyst for attracting tourists," adding, "In particular, it will disperse tourism demand, which has been concentrated in Seoul, to regions across the country, making a major contribution to revitalizing local tourism economies."
Yun Seok-ho, CEO of Daytrip, also said, "With the biggest inconvenience experienced by tourists from around the world visiting Korea resolved, Korea is expected to reemerge as a more attractive and accessible 'global tourism powerhouse' for travelers worldwide," adding, "Beyond attracting tourists, this decision will serve as a catalyst that opens the door for travel and spatial industry startups to grow on the global stage."
Still, the decision is a strict conditional approval, not a "full opening." Multiple safeguards have been imposed, including masking of military and security facilities and coordinate display limits, data processing on domestic servers, establishing a security incident response system, and stationing a dedicated Korea maps liaison. The government said it can suspend or revoke approval in case of violations, stating that it has minimized security concerns.
Even so, concerns persist in parts of the domestic platform industry. Domestic platform corporations such as Naver and Kakao have grown directions, store information, and mobility services based on high-precision maps. If Google expands services in earnest, user choices may shift, and the platform competition landscape could move in a different direction as a result.
Another point of contention is that map data is an asset directly tied to "platform sovereignty," beyond a simple service domain. Some studies have suggested that after the export of high-precision maps, API usage fees and royalty expenses paid to overseas corporations could reach several trillion won annually, with cumulative costs over the next 10 years exceeding 150 trillion won. Repeated criticism has also been raised that overseas corporations pay relatively low levels of corporate tax compared with the revenue they generate domestically.
A source in the domestic platform industry said, "If Google uses high-precision maps, it will likely be able to bundle and expand advertising, store information, and mobility services all at once in Korea," adding, "Since maps are ultimately the starting point for platform traffic, domestic operators cannot help but feel more pressure." The source added, "Although it is a conditional approval, we have no choice but to watch how strictly it will actually be enforced."