BusinessNov 4, 2026, 6:49 AM UTC·2 min read

T map Sale to Goldman Sachs Cannot Send User Data Abroad

Even if Goldman Sachs takes control of South Korea's biggest navigation app T map, user data cannot be moved overseas at will, because privacy law applies to any owner.

A smartphone showing a car navigation map with a route line, symbolizing location data protected by privacy law. — Image: zdnet.co.kr

SUMO

Dialo

ediviewer

Even if foreign capital takes control of T map, South Korea's largest navigation service, user data cannot simply be moved overseas. Acquiring a controlling stake and obtaining the right to use personal information are separate matters, so foreign investors remain bound by Korean privacy rules.

According to industry sources, investment bank Goldman Sachs is pursuing a deal to buy shares held by SK Square, the largest shareholder of T map Mobility, and by financial investors. SK Square owns 63.23%, and Goldman is reportedly discussing a stake of 60% to 70%. The deal is said to be worth about 700 billion to 800 billion won. SK Square aims to close talks within the year and is considering keeping a minority stake to continue cooperating with T map Mobility on AI.

What the law says

The concern is understandable: T map has about 25 million cumulative subscribers and holds a large volume of data, including travel routes and driving records. But a change of major shareholder does not automatically grant access to or rights over that data.

Under the Personal Information Protection Act, providing personal data abroad, viewing it from overseas, outsourcing its processing abroad and storing it abroad all count as cross-border transfers. Transfers are allowed only when legal requirements are met. Explanations of the rules suggest that, in practice, consent would be needed from all 25 million users before a transfer could even begin, unless another legal basis applies.

Remote access from abroad to servers in Korea can also fall under the transfer rules. Data being stored domestically does not mean overseas access is free.

Oversight and next steps

The Personal Information Protection Commission can order a suspension of a transfer if requirements are violated or users may be harmed. Route and location records that can identify an individual are also covered by location information regulations.

Whether user data actually leaves Korea after a Goldman deal would therefore depend on how data is processed and on the contract structure. Becoming the largest shareholder alone gives no basis to assume a leak or transfer.