South Korea approves Google bid to export high-precision map data
Technology
South Korea approved Google to export high-precision map data overseas, ending a two-decade ban and allowing it to compete with local apps despite past national security concerns.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Friday it had approved Google's request to export the country's high-precision map data to overseas servers, a major reversal after two decades of rejection that clears the way for the U.S. tech giant to enter a market dominated by local apps.
South Korea is just one of a few countries where Google Maps does not function properly.
Seoul had shot down Google's previous bids in 2007 and 2016 on national security grounds, citing risks that detailed map data could expose sensitive military and security facilities in a country that remains technically at war with North Korea.
The decision comes amid pressure from the United States on South Korea to address what Washington views as discrimination against U.S. tech companies.
