Technology
Google Maps prepares to launch turn-by-turn navigation in South Korea
The company is hiring leadership to establish partnerships following government approval to export high-precision mapping data.
The short version
- Google has hired a Strategic Partnerships Development Manager to help bring full navigation features to South Korea.
- Google Maps in South Korea is currently limited to public transit directions, business reviews, and basic location information.
- The expansion follows South Korean approval allowing Google to process precision map data on foreign servers with specific security conditions.
Key facts
- Google recruited a Strategic Partnerships Development Manager to work with public and private organizations on expanding Google Maps in South Korea.[9to5Google]
- Google Maps currently lacks turn-by-turn driving navigation in South Korea and is restricted to public transit directions and location details.[9to5Google]
- Domestic mapping applications Naver Map and Kakao Map currently hold up to three times as many users in South Korea as Google Maps.[9to5Google]
- South Korea's government authorized Google to transfer detailed mapping data to overseas servers on the condition that military and sensitive sites are obscured and geographic coordinates are disabled.[9to5Google]
What remains uncertain
- The exact release timeline for full turn-by-turn navigation features in South Korea has not been announced.[9to5Google]