Seoul: The government on Friday decided to allow global tech giant Google to transfer government-supplied high-precision map data of South Korea to its overseas facilities, contingent on supplementary measures to address security concerns. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which oversees national mapping policy, made the decision after holding a meeting with officials from foreign, defense, and other related ministries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Google filed its latest request in February 2025, seeking approval for the transfer of 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas data centers. This conditional approval comes after careful consideration of the potential security implications and the implementation of measures to safeguard sensitive information. The ministry's decision highlights the importance of balancing technological advancement with national security interests.