South Korea approves Google bid to export high-precision map data

South Korean authorities approved Google's request on Friday, February 27, to export the country's high-precision map data to overseas servers, marking a significant policy reversal after two decades of rejections that will allow the U.S. tech giant to compete in a market currently dominated by domestic applications. This decision represents a major shift in South Korea's longstanding protectionist stance on its geospatial data, which had been considered too sensitive for international sharing due to national security concerns. For nearly 20 years, South Korea had strictly prohibited the export of its detailed maps containing precise information about roads, buildings, and terrain, fearing such data could potentially be used for military purposes or by adversaries. The approval comes amid growing pressure from international tech companies and changing global standards in digital mapping services that have made South Korea's isolation increasingly conspicuous in the interconnected digital economy.