South Korea has approved a request by Google to export the country’s high-precision map data to overseas servers, marking a significant reversal of policy after nearly two decades of rejection.
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The decision is expected to allow full functionality of Google Maps in the country, where global mapping services have long faced restrictions and local navigation platforms dominate the market.
Seoul had previously denied similar requests in 2007 and 2016 due to national security concerns, warning that detailed geographic data could expose sensitive military installations. The issue remains particularly sensitive as the country is still technically at war with North Korea.
Officials said the approval followed a fresh regulatory review and comes amid pressure from the United States, which has argued that restrictions on foreign technology firms created unfair barriers in the South Korean digital market.
The move is expected to reshape the country’s navigation industry while reigniting debate over data security, sovereignty, and foreign tech influence.
