Hidden Value and Risk

There is an argument that Google will turn the map into high-quality big data by applying it to local smart cars.
There is an argument that Google will turn the map into high-quality big data by applying it to local smart cars.

 

“If Google develops their business in Korea with a Korean map, Google will definitely destroy ecosystems in the geographic information systems (GIS) and location-based service (LBS) sectors,” said Park Jong-hwan, a former co-CEO of Roc and All, the developer of “Driver Kim,” navigation software in his Facebook page. “If Google is given a Korean map, will there be a second ‘Driver Kim?’”

“This is a message from me, a man who has worked for 15 years since he entered the GIS sector at the age of 29,” Park continued. “Even if Google launches its business on a full scale with a Korean map, the company will create no jobs and pay no tax to the Korean taxman. Period!” In particular, a precise Korean map that Google demands is not a private asset but public goods made with Korean taxpayers’ money.  

“If a company starts business with such public goods, interest for the people should be prioritized over anything else. The interest includes job creation, tax and ecosystems in related fields,” Park stated. “But the precise map that Google want to take with a small amount of money will be used in Google’s business in Korea.”  

“Google will turn the map into high-quality big data by applying it to smart cars. By using such cars, the global search giant will produce high-grade data such as all real-time traffic situations, the analysis of business areas and a search for information in neighboring areas,” Park added.       

Earlier in June, Google requested the Korean government to give the IT giant the Korean map, claiming that map shipment will ramp up benefits of Korean users of the Google Map Service and bring innovation to the Korean ICT industry.   

On other hand, in May of last year, Roc and All sold all of its equities to Kakao for 62.6 billion won in five years since its foundation. Since being absorbed into Kakao as its affiliate, Roc and All has maintained the same top management. Its navigation service, “Driver Kim,” has been in service since it was renamed “Kakao Navi” in February last year

 

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