Washington, D.C. – The Computer & Communications Industry Association is deeply disappointed by the South Korean government’s continued and unjustified delay in taking the necessary steps to authorize the export of digital map data, a key enabler of modern navigation, logistics, and mobility services. The decision by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to postpone action follows an application filed in February by Google seeking permission to transfer the same map data used by local competitors to servers outside Korea.
This decision by the Korean government, following earlier delays in May and August of this year, extends one of the longest-standing barriers to U.S.-Korea digital trade, one that both stakeholders and the United States government have been seeking to address since 2013.
Korea remains the only major market where U.S. map providers face restricted functionality due to strict data localization requirements on map data, a restriction that prevents foreign firms from offering high-quality, map-based services to Korean consumers and businesses. By requiring foreign providers to maintain local data centers, the government has created unnecessary costs and competitive disadvantages for global service providers, while providing no meaningful security benefit—contravening Korea’s obligation under the Korea-United States FTA (KORUS) to provide non-discriminatory treatment to U.S. service suppliers.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has advocated for free trade for more than 50 years.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade, Jonathan McHale:
“CCIA urges the South Korean government to act promptly to approve pending applications from U.S. technology providers and to remove restrictions on the export of map data. Ending this long-running policy would signal South Korea’s commitment to open digital markets and strengthen its partnership with the United States in advancing an interoperable global digital economy.”
