Google clears key map security checks in Korea, taps Tmap as local partner

South Korea on Friday confirmed that Google had implemented key security measures required to export detailed Korean map data, bringing the US tech giant a step closer to offering full navigation services after nearly two decades of regulatory hurdles.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said an interagency review committee had verified Google's compliance with security conditions attached to its approval to export 1:5,000-scale map data, following a meeting with government officials and private-sector experts earlier in the day.

The review follows Seoul's conditional approval on Feb. 27, which ended a 19-year standoff over Google's efforts to transfer Korean map data to its overseas servers. The company submitted its final report on the required security measures on Nov. 4.

According to the ministry, Google removed latitude and longitude coordinates for South Korean territory from its global Google Maps and Google Earth services, covering both web and mobile platforms.

To prevent the coordinates from reappearing, the company developed a Korea-specific control system to block application updates if restricted location information is detected.

Google has also taken steps to obscure military installations and other sensitive facilities in satellite imagery, although the transition to imagery screened by Korean authorities is incomplete.

Under an agreement signed Aug. 31, Google will obtain satellite images processed by the National Geographic Information Institute through a domestic partner. The company must replace its existing imagery as soon as the approved data becomes available.

The arrangement allows Korean authorities to retain control over information on sensitive facilities, including their locations and boundaries, without disclosing those details directly to Google. The company is required to incorporate the processed images without modification.

Meanwhile, Google has temporarily blurred sensitive sites it identified using commercial satellite imagery from overseas providers. The restrictions also extend to historical imagery available on Google Earth.

Google has removed Street View images covering those facilities and roads within 50 meters of their boundaries. Once the domestically processed imagery is supplied, the company must extend the restrictions to all designated security sites and surrounding areas.

The government has also required Google to rely on a Korean partner to process map data on domestic servers before transferring it overseas.

Only base maps and transportation-related information, such as road networks, road names, lane counts, speed limits and road geometry, are eligible for export. Google must use the processed data without altering its geographic features.

As part of its security commitments, Google has designated the president of Google Korea as its local point of contact for map-related matters and established a 24-hour system to handle government requests.

If authorities identify a security violation, Google's local representative must immediately alert the company's headquarters and ensure corrective action is completed within one business day.

The company has also prepared contingency measures for national security emergencies, including armed conflicts and major natural disasters, under which it could adjust restricted areas or disable certain mapping features in consultation with the government.

A committee official said authorities would continue to scrutinize the export process even after the security measures were verified.

"We will continue to monitor the export of domestically processed imagery and data, and strictly check whether coordinate restrictions remain in place and the security incident response system functions properly," the official said.

The official added that serious violations could result in the suspension or revocation of Google's export approval.

The ministry said Google's use of domestically processed map data would also subject the company to corrective orders and other enforcement procedures under Korean law, as with local mapping providers.

The committee assessed that applying Korean security standards to Google Maps and Google Earth could help address longstanding national security concerns surrounding the global platforms.

Google has also pledged to pursue a multiyear cooperation program with Korea's geospatial information industry, including potential technology partnerships and investment. The government said it would work with the company and domestic businesses to develop concrete initiatives.

Meanwhile, Google has selected Tmap Mobility as its local partner to process the base map data needed for its Korean services, according to industry sources Friday.

The US company is expected to begin using data processed by Tmap on servers in South Korea as early as 2027, in line with the government's security requirements.

The partnership is limited to static map information, including road networks, buildings and addresses. It does not cover Tmap users' personal information, real-time locations, search histories or driving routes.

Aggregated and anonymized mobility data, precise positioning and sensor information, and high-definition maps used for advanced driving applications are also excluded.

Tmap is expected to supply Google with security-screened imagery and locally processed map data under the export approval conditions.

Neither company has disclosed the contract's duration or value, though industry estimates suggest it could be worth several million dollars annually.

Tmap's selection comes as the navigation provider seeks to build on more than two decades of mapping expertise and its longstanding relationship with Google.

The two companies have maintained a content partnership since 2008. Tmap also supplies its Tmap Auto in-car navigation system to more than 20 global automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo.

"Further details on the partnership's timeline and scope will be provided as the relevant procedures move forward," Google and Tmap said.