Following in Google’s footsteps, Apple has also officially requested the South Korean government for permission to export high-precision map data. Unlike Google, Apple has signaled a willingness to be more accommodating of government demands. The South Korean government is expected to face a difficult decision, complicated by entangled trade issues with the United States.
On Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Apple applied the previous day to the National Geographic Information Institute for permission to export domestic precision map data at a 1:5,000 scale. Current regulations stipulate that exporting maps with a scale more detailed than 1:25,000 requires approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Apple had made a similar request in February 2023 but was rejected on national security grounds.
Last February, Google also sparked controversy by requesting to export map data, following similar attempts in 2011 and 2016. While the South Korean government had previously denied Google’s requests for security reasons, they have delayed their decision until August, citing the possibility of it escalating into a trade dispute with the United States. Google has agreed to blur sensitive security facilities as the government demands but insists on retaining coordinate data.
Apple, however, has reportedly expressed its willingness to flexibly accommodate the South Korean government’s requirements. Similar to South Korean companies like Naver and Kakao, Apple proposes to blur security facilities, utilize low-resolution processing, and employ SK T-map for map data. Moreover, unlike Google, Apple maintains servers within South Korea. The government considers server location crucial, as domestic servers allow for immediate corrective measures if security facilities are exposed. The government must respond to Apple’s request by September 8.
Meanwhile, anticipating a surge in map export requests from foreign tech companies, the National Geographic Information Institute issued an urgent call for research proposals on June 4 to develop strategies for managing the export of national spatial information assets. The institute has outlined specific requirements, including analysis of global international affairs, response strategies for overseas exports, evaluation of domestic and international spatial information services and industry ecosystems, and a thorough examination of legal and institutional issues. The scope extends to matters such as the Google Tax, Digital Services Tax, and the extraterritorial application of domestic laws. The project must also address the necessity and basis for a new pricing policy if national base maps and satellite imagery are to be sold, and propose pricing structures and distribution strategies. Additionally, it must establish a phased plan to address overseas exports for the period after 2027.
