The South Korean government has confirmed the compliance results of security measures imposed on Google regarding the export of high-precision maps. Military and security facility images will be processed domestically before being provided to Google, and map data processing will also occur within the country.
On the morning of November 13, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a meeting of the high-precision map export consultative body, confirming the compliance results of security conditions imposed when Google was granted permission to export high-precision maps at a scale of 1:5000 in February.
Previously, Google applied for the export of high-precision maps from South Korea, and the government granted permission under the condition of security measures. On November 4, Google submitted the final compliance results for each condition, including restrictions on coordinate display, video security processing, data processing, and security incident response procedures.
Regarding coordinate display, Google has completed measures to remove and restrict the display of latitude and longitude coordinates for South Korean territory in its global services, including Google Maps and Google Earth. A dedicated control layer applicable only to South Korean territory has been developed, and a preventive system has been established to block distribution if coordinate exposure is detected during future application updates.
A security processing method for military and security facility images has also been established. Since the locations and related information of military and security facilities are sensitive, Google will not process this information directly. Instead, the government will supply images processed domestically through local partner companies. To facilitate this, the National Geographic Information Institute has signed a contract to receive security-processed images from domestic partners. Google must replace the existing images in its map services as soon as it receives the domestically processed images.
Google has also completed the removal of Street View images for roads within 50 meters of military and security facilities that it processed itself. Once domestically processed images are provided, all Street View images of military and security facilities and their surroundings will also be deleted. This aims to prevent external exposure of information related to military and security facilities and to ensure government control over the security processing process.
Map data processing will also occur domestically. The government confirmed that a data processing and supply contract has been established between Google and domestic partner companies. The domestic partners will process data in a format that can be uploaded to Google Maps on domestic servers. Google is required to upload the provided data without altering the terrain's shape.
A response system for security incidents has also been established. The government has designated Yoon Gu, the CEO of Google Korea, as the domestic liaison, creating a 24-hour response system to handle government requests. If the government identifies violations of domestic standards, such as exposure of security facilities in images, the liaison will relay the requests to Google's headquarters response team, ensuring that actions are completed within one business day of receipt.
While the government confirmed the compliance results submitted by Google during this meeting, it plans to continue monitoring the actual export of map data and the application of services. Relevant ministries and agencies will continuously verify the process of supplying security-processed images and processed data, as well as check whether the restrictions on coordinate display are maintained and if the security incident response system is functioning properly.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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