South Korea Set To Get a Fully Functioning Google Maps (reuters.com) 14
South Korea has reversed a two-decade policy and approved the export of high-precision map data, paving the way for a fully functional Google Maps in the country. Reuters reports: The approval was made "on the condition that strict security requirements are met," the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. Those conditions include blurring military and other sensitive security-related facilities, as well as restricting longitude and latitude coordinates for South Korean territory on products such as Google Maps and Google Earth, it said.
The decision is expected to hurt Naver and Kakao -- local internet giants which currently dominate the country's market for digital map services. But it will appease Washington, which has urged Seoul to tackle what it says is discrimination against U.S. tech companies. South Korea, still technically at war with North Korea, had shot down Google's previous bids in 2007 and 2016 to be allowed to export the data, citing the risks that information about sensitive military and security facilities could be exposed. "Google can now come in, slash usage fees, and take the market," said Choi Jin-mu, a geography professor at Kyung Hee University. "If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services -- logistics firms, for example -- become dependent, and in the long run, even government GIS (geographic information) systems could end up dependent on Google or Apple. That's the biggest concern."
The decision is expected to hurt Naver and Kakao -- local internet giants which currently dominate the country's market for digital map services. But it will appease Washington, which has urged Seoul to tackle what it says is discrimination against U.S. tech companies. South Korea, still technically at war with North Korea, had shot down Google's previous bids in 2007 and 2016 to be allowed to export the data, citing the risks that information about sensitive military and security facilities could be exposed. "Google can now come in, slash usage fees, and take the market," said Choi Jin-mu, a geography professor at Kyung Hee University. "If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services -- logistics firms, for example -- become dependent, and in the long run, even government GIS (geographic information) systems could end up dependent on Google or Apple. That's the biggest concern."
They probably figure that North Korea has the maps (Score:2)
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Not the only thing inconvenient in Korea.
Twitch withdrew from Korea a few years ago because the ISP's want to double dip the fees. I assume this will be a problem for google as well.
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Besides, the maps would be useful for people looking for directions. Google Maps doesn't have to show the details of strategic military installations. It's bizarre that South Koreans don't have what Indians have in terms of detailed street maps
Tourists say thankyou (Score:4, Interesting)
I was in Seoul last year, and it was a choice between Google Maps (all coordinates out by 50m+) and Naver (most labels in Korean). Such a hassle.
Monopoly (Score:4, Insightful)
This has already happened in other countries. Google Maps pushes out the competition using low prices, then proceeds to raise prices by more than 1000%, up to an eyewatering $0!
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"But it's not OUR monoply, so it's bad"
A ... maps (Score:1)
don't they have plural indefinite article in S.Korea ?
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Please someone answer this. I think there are no articles at all, but my understanding of Korean is way basic.
Huh? Korea has way better stuff than google maps (Score:4, Interesting)
Have these guys never been in a cab in Korea?
Korea way better maps software than google maps and has had it for years. Every single good-sized building in Seoul is laid out in 3D on the map, so you can identify it -- and you need that because you have to navigate to Jangmi Castle 11D, which is one of 13 building which all look basically alike in a cluster. The Korean navigation software is SWEET and makes you envious -- we could really use that stuff in the US.
I suspect Google will come in, offer their stuff, and then be mystified as to why nobody uses it except western visitors (of which yes, there are a good number).
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But...are the labels in English, or Korean? If you don't read Korean, you might have trouble with the local map software. Sure, Naver has an English mode, but not everything is translated.
One should be careful... (Score:3)
What doesn't work? (Score:2)
Has this already happened - the title suggests not ("Set to Get")?
I just selected some random city in South Korea and Google maps seemed to be working just fine, including Street View and satellite images. Do I gather that it is something to do with the accuracy of the latitude and longitude values that are displayed?
I doubt it (Score:2)