South Korea delays decision on letting Google move hi-res map data overseas

There is South Korea Once again a decision suspended About whether Google’s request to transfer the country’s high-dependent map data to its international servers will be approved.

In February, Google requested approval from Korean National Geographic Information Institute To set up 1: 5,000 scale map to its app in the country and to transfer that data to its servers abroad, a spokesperson South Korea Confirmed on TechCrunch.

The spokesman said the government was supposed to finalize his decision within 605 days in mid -May, but the deadline was now shifted on August 7 because they are still in talks, spokesperson.

Following the previous requests in 20 and 20 2016, this is Google’s third request to South Korea. Tech Giants currently use 1: 25,000 scale maps in the country that include interest and satellite images, according to, according to interest and satellite images The media reportThe A 1: 5,000 scale high-dependent map will provide more detailed views that will include even narrow roads.

When South Korean officials rejected Google’s request in 2016, they said that only one approval would be given if the US Tech Farm set up a data center in South Korea. The country also asked Google to obscure the susceptible positions like national security facilities to obscure on its map for protection.

Google has not yet said that it will set up a data center in South Korea. The company manages An array of data centers Asian countries like Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia are around the world.

Data restrictions The government has influenced Google Maps and Apple Maps in South Korea. Foreigners and tourists fight to navigate Google Maps because of often limited information and languages ​​supported, often using local applications that do not support many foreign languages.

Local navigation applications such as Navar Map, TMAP and Kakao Map are most popular among local users. These applications provide map data on a scale of 1: 5,000 and so many more information and details. The Nava map, which was launched in 2002, has about 2 27 million monthly active users, while the Kakao map and TMAP have about 1 million and 20 million MAS respectively.

Google did not immediately respond to any request for the comment.