With both Apple and Google now pressing for data export rights, the South Korean government faces a policy dilemma amid ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, June 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Apple is once again knocking on the doors of the South Korean government, seeking permission to export the country’s highly detailed map data—a request that places Seoul in the middle of a growing tug-of-war between national security and digital globalization.
According to officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Apple filed its latest application on Monday with the state-run National Geographic Information Institute. The U.S. tech giant is requesting approval to transfer 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data for use in its global mapping services, including Apple Maps.
This is Apple’s second attempt. Its first request, made in early 2023, was rejected due to concerns over national security—specifically, the risks of exposing sensitive military and government facilities to foreign data servers. But Apple’s reentry into the debate signals the rising urgency among global tech companies to secure geospatial data access in key markets like South Korea.
Apple’s move follows in the footsteps of Google, which filed a similar application in February 2025. The simultaneous requests from two of the world’s most powerful tech firms have turned what was once a niche regulatory issue into a policy test for President Lee Jae-myung’s administration, which must now weigh domestic security priorities against broader trade and tech diplomacy—especially as U.S.–Korea digital cooperation is under renewed scrutiny during President Trump’s second term.
There are, however, key differences in the two companies’ approaches—differences that may ultimately influence the government’s decision.
This photo taken Dec. 6, 2023, shows an Apple Inc. logo at the Apple Store in Seoul’s Myeongdong area. (Yonhap)
Unlike Google, which operates its map servers outside South Korea, Apple maintains server infrastructure on Korean soil. That local presence is a major plus in the eyes of regulators, as it allows for rapid intervention if national security threats arise. Furthermore, Apple is reportedly more amenable to government-imposed restrictions designed to protect sensitive sites.
While Google has so far only agreed to apply basic blurring techniques to locations of concern, Apple has indicated it would go further—complying with conditions to blur, camouflage, or even downgrade the resolution of certain areas, in line with practices followed by domestic platforms like Naver and Kakao. Apple has also signaled a willingness to use SK Telecom’s T Map as a base data layer, further aligning with local standards.
The stakes are high. Approval could enhance Apple’s competitiveness in the South Korean map services market and solidify Seoul’s position as a player in global geospatial data governance. But a greenlight could also draw criticism from national security advocates wary of foreign access to sensitive geographic information.
The government is expected to announce its decision on Apple’s application by September. A separate ruling on Google’s request is due by August 11, following an extension of the initial review period.
In the meantime, South Korea finds itself balancing diplomacy, digital sovereignty, and market dynamics—one map layer at a time.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
