Map Data Shipment Possible?
People’s Party lawmaker Choi Gyeong-hwan, who is a member of the Land, Infrastructure & Transport Committee of the National Assembly, said on September 26 that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport’s recent decision relating to Google’s request for precision map data makes no sense.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport recently deferred its decision on map data supply to Google with local industries and the general public opposed to a compliance with the request.
“Accurate map coordinates become available when the 1:5,000 digital map requested by Google and the Google Earth 3D map are used at the same time,” the lawmaker explained, continuing, “Then, South Korea might be exposed to risks posed by North Korean gunfire.”
He went on to say that Google is already using 1:5,000 digital maps in South Korea via SK Telecom and thus no additional precision map data has to be provided for Google. “According to the ministry, no less than six trillion won has been spent on precision map production,” he also mentioned, adding, “What Google is attempting to do is use the map for free for the reason that it has no server in South Korea.”
In response, Minister of Land, Infrastructure & Transport Kang Ho-in said that map data supply to Google can result in a decline in market share on the part of market-leading companies such as Naver, but more business opportunities for startups. “What we can’t do can be done by Google in that case,” he mentioned, adding, “We will reach an optimal conclusion by the deadline scheduled for November.”