The consultative body has not met even once since the decision to export maps to Google
Verification of Google's implementation plans must be conducted publicly with experts
Measures to protect the domestic industry and promotion plans following the export must be included
Three months have passed since the government decided to conditionally permit the export of a portion of 1:5,000 scale high-precision map data to Google, but subsequent discussions have virtually stalled. Voices from the platform and spatial information industries are calling for the participation of industry and academia to prepare security and industry protection measures, and to verify whether Google is properly implementing the strict security conditions.
According to the industry on May 28, the Consultative Body on the Export of Survey Outcomes has not held a single meeting since it allowed Google to export a portion of the 1:5,000 scale high-precision maps on February 27. The National Geographic Information Institute is known to have sent a document to Google requesting an implementation plan for the export conditions, and is currently waiting for a response from the company. When Google's response arrives, it must verify with working-level experts whether the conditions can actually be implemented.
The Consultative Body on the Export of Survey Outcomes permitted the export of Google's 1:5,000 map data overseas in February on the premise of complying with strict security conditions. Accordingly, Google must implement conditions such as blurring military and security facilities in satellite and aerial photos and Street View, restricting coordinate displays for South Korean territory, processing raw data through servers of domestic partner companies, and exporting limited data that has undergone government review. The government is waiting for Google to submit a specific implementation plan regarding this matter.
Spatial information experts emphasized that when Google's response arrives, the government must publicly review the contents and bring them to public discussion. They argue that since the government partially permitted the export of high-precision maps on the premise of strict security conditions, the feasibility of implementing the conditions must be thoroughly reviewed at a working level. In particular, they pointed out that public verification is important, unlike the decision-making process for exporting high-precision maps, which was previously evaluated as lacking transparency.
Opinions also suggest that measures to foster the spatial information industry should be reflected in the “4th Basic Plan for Spatial Information Industry Promotion” scheduled to be announced by the government this year. The 4th Basic Plan for Spatial Information Industry Promotion is a mid- to long-term plan applied from this year until 2030. It is known to contain measures to create a spatial intelligence ecosystem.
An academic expert said, “I understand that the government is establishing the 4th Basic Plan for Spatial Information Industry Promotion in its final stages,” and added, “Since the overseas export of high-precision maps has been decided, the tasks for protecting and promoting the spatial information industry accordingly must be included in the basic plan.”
Voices from the industry also claim that the government must prepare measures to protect the spatial information industry together with the sector. They argue that even if the government makes political judgments, technical aspects should be reviewed together with the industry.
Kim Dae-cheon, president of the Korean Association of Spatial Information, Surveying & Mapping, said, “The industry must form a committee of experts to participate in establishing measures and review technical aspects,” and added, “As we are exporting 1:5,000 scale high-precision maps to Google, we must also expand investment in constructing more precise 1:1,000 maps.”
