The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said an interagency committee comprising government officials and civilian experts reviewed Google's compliance with security conditions attached to the export of 1:5,000-scale digital maps.
Google applied for permission in February 2025, and the government granted conditional approval on Feb. 27 this year, requiring restrictions on geographic coordinates, security processing of satellite imagery, domestic data processing and emergency response measures.
Google submitted its final compliance report on Nov. 4.
According to the ministry, Google has removed or restricted the display of latitude and longitude coordinates for South Korean territory across its global Google Maps and Google Earth services.
The company also developed a dedicated control system to prevent sensitive coordinates from being exposed through future application updates.
While Google Maps and Google Earth are mapping and geographic exploration services, satellite imagery refers to the images used by those platforms to display the Earth's surface. The government's security requirements therefore cover both geographic coordinate displays and the visibility of sensitive military facilities in satellite imagery.
For satellite imagery, Google signed an agreement on Aug. 31 with a South Korean partner to obtain imagery processed by the National Geographic Information Institute to conceal sensitive military and security facilities.
The domestic partner was identified as TMAP, although details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The company has also removed Street View images showing the interiors of identified military facilities and roads within 50 meters of their boundaries. Additional restrictions will apply when the domestic imagery is introduced.
Google has also designated the head of Google Korea as its domestic mapping security officer and established a round-the-clock response system.
Under the arrangement, security incidents raised by the government must be addressed within one business day. Emergency measures will also be available during major natural disasters or national security crises.
Officials said the measures would help reduce national security risks associated with Google Maps and Google Earth while allowing the company to expand its use of South Korean geographic information.
"We thank the Korean government for recognizing the value Google Maps provides to residents, visitors and local authorities," a Google spokesperson said.
"Having met the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's requirements, we look forward to launching Google Maps in Korea," the spokesperson added.
Kim Hee-su
Kim Hee-su is a bilingual reporter at AJU Press, covering defense and foreign affairs. Before joining AJP in 2025, she worked at The Korea Times, where she wrote interview stories, including a profile of North Korean defector Kim Gum-hyok, and produced digital content. She also previously worked as a researcher for KBS News 9’s International News Department, supporting correspondents in 10 countries around the world. She graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a double major in Book and Media Studies and East Asian Studies.
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