Google wants South Korea to ease restrictions on mapping service

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 18, 2016, 16:16 Updated : May 18, 2016, 16:16

[Courtesy of Google Playstore]



By Park Sae-jin

Following its controversial pullout from China, global search engine Google is locked in a fresh fight in South Korea to break through what it described as discriminative restrictions on its mapping service.

Outside South Korea, which is in technically at war with North Korea, Google using servers scattered across the world provides almost unrestricted Map services, covering sensitive features even in North Korea such as its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, but it cannot do so in South Korea because of its draconian security law.

The law, which has been used to curb pro-North Korean activities, bans unauthorized exports of map data to data centers outside South Korea. It also requires Google's branch in South Korea to have sensitive items blur, such as military installations, nuclear power stations and the office of President Park Geun-hye.

South Korea's top search and mapping service Naver follows government guidelines, using government-supplied maps to conceal sensitive installations. Google's influence in South Korea is far behind Naver because of restrictions.

The law blocks companies from exporting government-supplied map data to be used by Google to offer features such as driving directions, public transit information and satellite maps.

On Wednesday South Korean government officials were to hold a meeting chaired by President Park that may include a related topic.

"In South Korea, Google hopes to provide its innovative mapping service which is available across the world," Kwon Bom-jun, a Google software engineer in charge of map production, said in a statement.

South Korea must listen to complaints by Chinese and Japanese tourists who cannot use Google's proper mapping service here, he said, suggesting Seoul should ease restrictions to provide convenience to foreign visitors during the 2018 Winter Olympics in the eastern sky resort of Pyeongchang.

Google has balked at a request from government officials to put one of its data servers in South Korea for its mapping service and abide by government guidelines, insisting users abroad could see sensitive facilities through mapping services provided by competitors.

The tussle has hampered Google's efforts to roll out better services, including real-time traffic information, 3-D maps and driving directions. Government officials, however, want Google not to disclose sensitive locations even for overseas users.

"Navigation features are available in China, Russia and even North Korea," Kwon said.

In China, Google ended its service in 2010, after it detected multiple hacking attempts using its exclusive source code. 

But Google's Map application is pre-installed in most of its Android-OS smartphones, providing navigation features to Chinese users. Such features are available in regions which restrict Google's search support.

Aju News Park Sae-jin and Lim Chang-won
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