Amid National Disorder
It has been pointed out that the South Korean government is turning towards handing over a shipment of precise map data of Korea to Google which has been controversial with the whole country falling into disorder due to Choi Soon-sil’s manipulation of government affairs. In particular, the US is expected to strengthen protectionism after its presidential election. Therefore, the Korean government is considering ways to allow the shipment of the map data overseas to avoid trade frictions. The final decision will be made via deliberations among government ministries next week.
According to officials of the Future Creation Science, Broadcasting and Communication Commission at the National Assembly, the government decided to permit the shipment of the map data abroad for national interests. It is the government's position that the provisional coordination was already made to provide map data to Google through informal discussions between Korea and the US, and even if political situations in Korea are unstable these days, the map data will be allowed to be shipped to Google with diplomatic issues considered.
The National Geographic Information Institute will decide whether to allow Google to use the Korean precision map data by holding a meeting of the Geographical Measurement Data Shipment Council composed of seven ministries in the latter half of next week. In late August, the council held its second meeting and delayed the final decision until November 23 of as they decided after hearing the position of Google.
“Google and the Korean government are repeating their positions because public opinions have not been shaped over the current map shipment,” said a representative of the council. “In the end, the Office for Government Policy Coordination will eventually coordinate their positions. The office is in a mood to clarify its position to order relevant ministries to allow the map data shipment in consideration of diplomatic and trade issues.”
“Even if the map data is sent overseas, there is a high possibility that opposing opinions will be easily offset by the confusing political situation.” said another representative. “None of the ministries in the council are strongly taking issue with it and they seem to consider diplomatic conflicts that can arise from a rejection against the shipment.”
If the data of a highly precise Korea map on the scale of 1:50,000 is transferred to Google, it will give the global search giant the digital information created with Korean taxpayers’ money of more than hundreds of billions of won for free as such cases have been quite rare in the world.
According to a study by Baird Equity Research, a US research agency, it is estimated that the value generated by Google Maps will reach US$ 5 billion in 2020.
Google Maps plays its role as a major source for Google's advertising revenue. Morgan Stanley analyzed that Google Maps will contribute more than US$ 1.5 billion to Google's revenue growth in 2017.
Google's travel information service app 'Google Trip' is also steadily expanding its range of services including guidance about navigation around its users and hot spots based on Google Maps.
“The precision map data will only serve as a source for Google's advertising revenue. It is frustrating to see the government trying to easily allow the shipment of these important data.” an industry representative said. “I doubt how positive a role Google will play in Korea’s industrial ecosystem via its project based on the precise map data.”
Ultimately, the map data shipment to Google is to support Google's huge revenue source with Korea’s tax. For this reason, the National Assembly and experts have raised voices that even if Korea provides the map data, the nation should receive fair compensations and should not hand over the map data to Google for nothing.