(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Sang-yong Han = Google is expected to begin strengthening domestic services using high-precision map data as early as next year as it meets the security conditions required for exporting domestic high-precision maps overseas.
If Google, which has already secured 10 million users of its domestic map app, combines search and artificial intelligence (AI) with its route finding function, a change is expected in the competitive landscape of the domestic map market, which has been led by Naver Map and Kakao Map.
Although the domestic platform industry was concerned about regulatory fairness with overseas operators, there are expectations in the tourism industry that navigation and travel convenience for foreign tourists will be improved.
◇ Restrictions on displaying domestic coordinates on Google Maps and Google Earth... Replaced with security processed video
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a meeting of the Basic Survey and Overseas Export Council on this day and confirmed that Google had fulfilled the security conditions required for permission to export overseas maps at a scale of 1:5,000.
Google applied to export domestic high-precision maps overseas in February last year.
On February 27 of this year, the government permitted export under the conditions of restricting coordinate display, video security processing, data processing through domestic servers, and establishing a security incident response system.
Google submitted a final report containing the results of implementing security conditions on the 4th of this month.
As the council confirms implementation, the way has been opened for Google to utilize precision map data processed in Korea for its services.
Google has also established a system to block distribution when coordinate exposure is detected during the app update process.
Google Maps is currently blocking military and security facilities that it has identified from overseas civilian satellite images.
Once domestic security-processed footage is received, existing footage must be replaced immediately, and the scope of deletion of 'Street View', a street photography service, of interiors of military and security facilities and surrounding roads must also be expanded.
The export target is limited to transportation network data such as basic base map, road network, road name, number of lanes, speed limit, and road geometry.
Google must load data processed on domestic servers by its affiliate company, T Map Mobility, without changing the terrain shape.
T Map users' personal information, real-time location, search history, driving route, etc. are excluded from provision.
The government plans to check compliance with security conditions during the actual export process and suspend or recall permits if serious non-compliance occurs.
A Google official said, "As we have met the requirements of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we look forward to launching Google Maps in Korea."
◇ Google Maps has already been used by 10 million people... Place search and reservations are also expected to be competitive
The domestic platform industry is paying attention to the possibility that competition will expand to restaurant and hotel searches, reservations, and local advertising if Google combines search and AI with the navigation function.
There are observations that the influence gained from the Android operating system could also help expand Google's map users.
Accordingly, a domestic industry official said, "We hope that the government will apply the same security and regulatory obligations to Google that apply to domestic companies so that allowing Google to export maps does not undermine the fair competitive environment of the domestic spatial information industry."
Another industry official also emphasized, “There should not be a situation where domestic businesses are reverse discriminated against foreign businesses that are relatively free from regulations and responsibilities,” and “they must compete fairly under the same conditions and environment.”
Some point out that the government should continue to monitor Google's implementation of security conditions and coexistence plans, and check whether its influence in Android is being used to limit competition in the maps market.
Google has announced its intention to operate a multi-year win-win cooperation program with domestic spatial information companies, and the government plans to support the establishment of specific measures such as technological cooperation and investment.
With Naver Maps leading the way, competition among the top four domestic map app services is expected to become more intense.
According to Mobile Index, among domestic map and navigation apps last month, Naver Map had the largest number of monthly active users (MAU) at 31.212 million.
T Map followed with 15.112 million people, Kakao Map with 13.826 million people, and Google Maps ranked fourth with 10.508 million people.
Naver Maps and Kakao Maps have a strategy of increasing competitiveness by upgrading their map functions, but Google is also expected to strengthen its services based on domestic precise maps.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry expects that travel convenience will increase if foreign tourists can find their way within the country using the apps they usually use.
A travel industry official said, “It will reduce the inconvenience of foreign tourists and help domestic travel and space startups advance overseas.”
Experts predicted that if Google combines search and AI with its domestic map service, competition with Naver and Kakao will intensify across map-based services such as restaurant and hotel search and reservations.
Wi Jeong-hyeon, dean of Chung-Ang University's College of Virtual Convergence, analyzed, "Foreigners' convenience in using maps will improve, but if Naver and Kakao [035720] do not speed up the launch of new services and improvement of the quality of existing services, their market share may fall."
