South Korea Approves Google Maps Data Exports After Two Decades

According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, South Korea announced on Friday its approval of Google’s request to export high-precision map data, a significant shift after two decades of opposition. This decision opens the door for the American technology giant to enter a market that has been largely controlled by domestic mapping applications.

South Korea has been one of the few countries where Google Maps has not functioned with full capability. Previous requests from Google in 2007 and 2016 were rejected by Seoul due to national security concerns. The government cited the potential for highly accurate map data to expose sensitive military and security facilities in a nation technically at war with North Korea.

The move comes amid pressure from the United States, which has been urging South Korea to address what Washington perceives as discriminatory practices against American technology companies, according to Reuters.