SoftwareNov 4, 2026, 4:55 PM UTC·2 min read

Google Plans Closed-Door Geospatial Forum in Korea Before Map Export

Google Korea is preparing a private geospatial forum on November 23, widely seen as a bid to meet government conditions for exporting 1:5,000-scale maps.

Smartphone showing Google Maps over a map of South Korea with Seoul highlighted — Image: 미래를 보는 창 - 전자신문

Google is preparing a coexistence plan for South Korea's geospatial industry and startups ahead of an expected export of high-precision maps at a 1:5,000 scale. According to industry sources, Google Korea is organizing a closed-door "Geospatial Industry Coexistence Forum" for November 23. The event aims to explore ways for Korean startups to expand globally, and the company is reportedly coordinating attendance by government ministries.

Why the forum matters

Google Korea has run an app ecosystem forum since 2020 and a responsible AI forum since 2024. In July it held its first joint event combining the two, discussing principles for responsible AI development and the impact of technology trends on Korea's app ecosystem. A forum aimed at the geospatial sector is unusual, and industry watchers read it as an effort to flesh out the coexistence measures the government demanded.

In February, the council that reviews overseas export of survey data allowed Google to take 1:5,000 maps out of the country. It attached security conditions and asked for a plan to contribute to the domestic geospatial industry, related fields such as AI, and balanced national growth. Submitting that plan is seen as the step that would let the export work begin in earnest.

Industry wants concrete investment

Sector insiders say Google has previously promised to work with local players, but one called those pledges closer to "making a case" than real commitment, adding that the industry needs to see whether actual investment follows. Attention is on whether Google will offer workable measures such as collaboration with Korean companies or support for local geospatial startups going abroad.

The stakes are high. According to Mobileindex, Google Maps had 10.5 million monthly active users last month, third behind Naver Map (31.21 million) and KakaoMap (13.82 million). It first passed 10 million in July with 10.13 million and has stayed above that level for four straight months. If Google launches AI-based navigation on top of high-precision maps, local geospatial startups would inevitably take a hit.

An academic source in the field said that even a conditional export is a livelihood issue for many domestic operators, and urged Google to act on predictable measures, such as signaling changes to its API pricing. Because Korea provides publicly funded geospatial data free of charge, the source added, Google should not see itself as a mere outside participant, and its plan should cover everyone across production, distribution, processing, use and map platforms.

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Tags:googlegoogle mapssouth koreageospatialhigh-precision mapsstartups