The Door Opened After 19 Years: South Korea Conditionally Approves Google Maps High-Precision Map Export — What Changes Now
On February 27, 2026, the South Korean government conditionally allowed the overseas export of Google's 1:5,000 high-precision maps — a request it had refused for 19 years. US-Korea tariff negotiations were the decisive trigger, and the move is expected to shake up Naver and Kakao's mapping industry while improving convenience for foreign tourists.