The Framework

South Korea enforces some of the world’s most stringent restrictions on the export of high-precision geospatial data, primarily through the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, enacted in June 2014. This law prohibits the transfer of detailed mapping data—specifically, digital maps at scales finer than 1:25,000—outside the country without explicit government approval.^[1] Authorities justify these restrictions on national security grounds, citing risks that such data could expose sensitive infrastructure and military installations.^[2]

Export requests for high-precision geospatial data are reviewed by a multi-agency Map Export Review Committee, chaired by the Director General of the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII). The committee includes representatives from key government bodies, such as the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and ICT, and the National Intelligence Service. By statute, the committee has 60 days to issue a decision, extendable by another 60 days for further deliberation if necessary. The committee must unanimously approve the application. To date, the committee has ultimately denied all such export requests, underscoring its strict standards.^[3]

Implications for U.S. Technology Leadership

South Korea’s export controls have emerged as a trade barrier for U.S. technology firms like Google and Apple, both of which have submitted applications to export 1:5,000 scale map data.^[4] The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) criticized the approval process as an “unfair trade practice” that undermines fair competition.^[5] The government’s blanket denial of export requests effectively prevents foreign firms from competing on equal terms with Korean providers, particularly in sectors that rely on high-resolution geospatial data.

Currently, Google and Apple’s mapping services in Korea are limited to publicly available data at the 1:25,000 scale. In contrast, domestic providers such as Naver and Kakao can deploy high-precision 1:5,000 scale maps, giving them a distinct advantage in offering real-time traffic updates, detailed street-level imagery, walking and driving directions, and advanced location-based services. These domestic firms face no such restrictions, creating a protectionist environment that places foreign platforms at a structural disadvantage. Trade experts estimate that U.S. map data providers could lose approximately $130 million annually as a result of these restrictions.^[6] More broadly, limits on cross-border data flows raise costs and limit functionality in downstream applications and stifle innovation in emerging technologies, undermining the global competitiveness of U.S. technology firms in critical growth sectors.

Endnotes