{"id":35128,"date":"2026-05-30T00:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/35128\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T00:32:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:32:21","slug":"google-and-south-korea-move-from-15000-maps-to-11-3d-digital-twins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/35128\/","title":{"rendered":"Google and South Korea Move From 1:5000 Maps to 1:1 3D Digital Twins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AI-generated<\/p>\n

On February 27, 2026, global big tech company Google received conditional approval from the South Korean government to export Korea\u2019s 1:5000 map data. It came a full 19 years after its first request. Maps we now hold in one hand have never once been unimportant from antiquity to today. Now maps are evolving beyond scale into a new dimension.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe turn-by-turn navigation feature on Google Maps is not available in Korea alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

In August 2025, Chris Turner, Google\u2019s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy on Knowledge and Information, wrote this on the Google Korea blog. At the time, Google had just filed its third request with the Korean government to export 1:5000 map data.<\/p>\n

Back in 2007, when Google was expanding its Google Maps service worldwide, it first requested access to Korea\u2019s 1:5000 National Base Map data. It was not simply asking to view or use the data locally; it was demanding permission to move the data to its overseas servers for storage and processing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, the core of the controversy became the concept of \u201cexport\u201d itself, and for the next 19 years it turned into a tug-of-war spanning policy, industry, and diplomacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason export was denied in 2007 was Korean law.\u201d So said Im Si-young, Associate Research Fellow at the Spatial Information Policy Research Center of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements. Korea\u2019s map data are location information assets created with national budget funds, and at the time they were legally prohibited from being taken out of the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cLegally, there was simply no way to provide them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Things began to change around 2016. By then, with services such as Google Maps and Google Earth providing two-dimensional (2D) maps and aerial\/satellite imagery worldwide, map data were starting to be recognized as core infrastructure for industry and a wide range of services. So when Google again requested data export, the Korean government shifted from a stance of \u201cblanket prohibition\u201d to one of allowing export if three specific conditions were met.<\/p>\n

The first condition presented at the time was national security. \u201cThe first condition was a request to process satellite and aerial imagery so that key national facilities, such as military bases, could not be identified,\u201d Im explained.<\/p>\n

In particular, it was seen as problematic that the locations of military bases could be clearly seen in the Google Earth service based on satellite imagery. Google refused, arguing that such processing would distort the truth.<\/p>\n

The second condition was to restrict the exposure of precise location coordinates. Im explained, \u201cMap data are no longer just images \u2014 once coordinates and attribute values are combined, they become \u2018spatial data,\u2019 and three-dimensional (3D) coordinates can then be used as reference points for precision missile strikes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The final condition was to process the data within Korea. \u201cIf Korea provides map data and the Dokdo islets end up labeled as \u2018Takeshima,\u2019 from Korea\u2019s perspective that is a kind of \u2018incident.\u2019\u201d Google did not accept such demands for roughly 10 years.<\/p>\n

In addition, there was strong public sentiment emphasizing sovereignty and protection of domestic industry. Map data can be processed and reused across various industries and technologies to generate new value. This fueled concerns that moving data to foreign platforms could lead to a loss of control over how those data are used.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There were also worries that the competitive landscape between global giants and Korean companies such as Naver and Kakao could change dramatically. The points of contention shifted over time: in the early years, security was paramount; in later years, data sovereignty and protection of domestic industry came to the fore. So what exactly is this 1:5000 map data that kept society in an uproar for so long?<\/p>\n

\"After<\/p>\n

After Google\u2019s second request to export map data in 2016, the Korean government asked the company to prevent the identification of key national facilities and the disclosure of precise coordinates. Google did not accept these terms at the time. Even today, the exact location of the Blue House can still be seen in satellite imagery on Google Maps. Getty Images Bank<\/p>\n

\u2022 Everything on the Korean Peninsula, in 1:5000 map data<\/p>\n

A scale of 1:5000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 50 m in the real world. With a scale like 1:25000, the larger denominator means that the same 1 cm represents a greater distance \u2014 250 m. Such maps can cover a wider area, but at the cost of less detail for each feature.<\/p>\n

Lee Sang-il, professor in the Department of Geography Education at Seoul National University, explained, \u201cAt a scale of 1:5000, the map not only shows locations, it also captures the structure of space.\u201d In other words, beyond simply recognizing whether a road or building exists, you can see details such as the shape and arrangement of buildings and the structure of roads, revealing how the space is organized.<\/p>\n

In Korea, the 1:5000 map serves as the National Base Map. A National Base Map is a standard reference map created and managed by the state, forming the starting point for all maps and spatial information. In Korea, it is produced by the National Geographic Information Institute.<\/p>\n

Kim In-hyun, CEO of Korea Spatial Information & Communication, who first informed the media about Google\u2019s data export request in 2007, explained, \u201cEverything from mainstream consumer map services like Naver Map or Kakao Map to national policies in urban planning, disaster response, and infrastructure management relies on the National Base Map.\u201d The National Base Map is the fundamental ingredient for all services that utilize maps.<\/p>\n

Worldwide, only about five countries \u2014 Korea, Japan, Spain, France, and Germany \u2014 possess 1:5000 scale maps of their entire territory. In countries that do not produce 1:5000 maps, Google purchases satellite imagery to provide its services.<\/p>\n

The National Base Map produced by the National Geographic Information Institute is not a single, flat image. It is a multi-layered dataset that represents a single space by splitting it into multiple information layers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Base Map is vector data with up to 107 layers,\u201d Kim said. \u201cWe separate elements such as road networks, buildings, terrain, rivers, administrative boundaries, and facilities into independent layers. When you stack them on a single coordinate system, you get what we commonly think of as a \u2018map.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to this multilayer structure, the National Base Map becomes computable data. For example, you can find the closest road from a specific coordinate, calculate the distance between a building and a road, or select areas that satisfy particular conditions. In effect, the National Base Map contains virtually all spatial data about the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n

\"On<\/p>\n

On Google Maps in Korea, turn-by-turn directions for car, walking, and bicycle navigation are not provided (red box), except for public transit. That is because providing such map-based services requires access to National Base Map data. Screenshots: Google Maps, Kakao Map<\/p>\n

When asked, \u201cHow are map data usually used?\u201d Im answered, \u201cUnless you make a deliberate effort not to use them, they are used in virtually every industry and field.\u201d He added that the terms \u201cmap\u201d or \u201cmap data\u201d can actually make people underestimate the breadth of their applications, emphasizing that they should be understood not as simple pictures but as \u201cspatial information,\u201d combining locations, objects, and relationships.<\/p>\n

In February 2026, the Korean government approved the conditional export of 1:5000 map data. This followed Google\u2019s third request in 2025, after which the government asked the company to supplement technical details regarding image security processing, coordinate display restrictions, server location, and post-management. The approval came after reviewing these measures.<\/p>\n

On February 27, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced in a press release that it had \u201cdecided to approve the export on the premise of strict compliance with security conditions.\u201d According to the release, even after map services go live, Google must manage procedures to implement government-requested corrections and must station a dedicated map liaison in Korea to maintain an always-on communication channel with the government.<\/p>\n

However, because Google still does not maintain servers in Korea, the issue of corporate tax avoidance is expected to continue. As of 2024, Google does not have a permanent establishment in Korea and pays only about 4.3% of the corporate taxes paid by Naver and Kakao.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoogle Maps is not going to change dramatically just because of the export,\u201d Im noted, pointing out that Google is already partially using 1:5000 map data provided by Korea\u2019s navigation service \u201cT map.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTurn-by-turn directions for cars, walking, and bicycles will be added soon,\u201d Professor Lee predicted. He explained that providing map-based services in Korea requires building on the National Base Map and going through the government\u2019s approval process, which has constrained Google\u2019s services.<\/p>\n

In this way, the 19-year standoff with Google has come to a close. Yet experts say that now is precisely the time to \u201cpay attention to the value of map data.\u201d After all, maps that humans have been creating for thousands of years are now transforming from 2D to 3D.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Nineteen<\/p>\n

Nineteen years after first requesting the export of high-precision 1:5000 map data, Google finally received approval in 2026, on the condition that it comply with the Korean government\u2019s requirements for security and data management. Getty Images Bank<\/p>\n

\u2022 From 2D to 3D: the rise of the digital twin city<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a 3D re-creation of the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca, Jeddah, and Medina.\u201d<\/p>\n

On April 3, at Naver Labs\u2019 headquarters in Pangyo, Vision Group leader Lee Dong-hwan pulled up a screen. An exotic urban panorama appeared. Jeddah is Saudi Arabia\u2019s second-largest city, and Mecca and Medina are historic Islamic holy sites. All three are massive cities built in the desert. What was striking was that the city on the screen was not just a bird\u2019s-eye 3D map, but \u201cdata\u201d that replicated the city itself.<\/p>\n

In the past, 3D maps were little more than an \u201cexpansion of representation,\u201d showing the height and shape of buildings in three dimensions. Today\u2019s 3D maps have evolved into \u201cdigital twins\u201d \u2014 three-dimensional digital counterparts that replicate the structure, state, and changes of the real world in real time and even support interaction.<\/p>\n

On Lee\u2019s screen, a flood simulation of the city started playing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the main reasons Saudi Arabia first reached out to Naver Labs was for flood simulation. It might sound odd to talk about flooding in the hot Middle East, but because of insufficient drainage infrastructure, heavy rains can turn streets into rivers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Together with the Korea Water Resources Corporation, Naver Labs built a system that uses 3D maps to simulate heavy downpours: which paths the water will follow, where it will pool, and which buildings will be inundated.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A digital twin view of Seoul created by Naver Labs in 2020. Digital twins accurately reproduce reality and help improve the precision and efficiency of policy decisions. Courtesy of Naver Labs<\/p>\n

3D maps include elements such as building heights and shapes, terrain slopes, and road structures. On a flat map, it is difficult to predict exactly how water will flow or where it will accumulate, but a 3D map makes it possible to calculate water movement based on the actual terrain and built structures.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not just floods. 3D maps can be used to predict and plan responses to other disasters, as well as traffic and environmental changes. In effect, 3D maps create a \u201cdigital twin city\u201d \u2014 a virtual city model that replicates the real city as 3D data.<\/p>\n

3D maps are generated in the form of \u201cpoint cloud data,\u201d which densely sample space point by point by combining aerial photography, LiDAR sensor data, and other sources. As a result, they become data that reveal how a space is configured and how it operates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In particular, technologies already emerging today and expected to expand further in the future \u2014 autonomous vehicles, physical AI, and augmented reality (AR) \u2014 are all projected to develop on the foundation of 3D maps. 3D map data produced as point clouds are used for robots to compute travel routes, understand road structures, and enable AR devices to recognize their location.<\/p>\n

\u2022 A 1:1 scale? Future maps become reality itself<\/p>\n

\u201cThe expansion of maps into 3D is a tremendous leap forward,\u201d Professor Lee said. In particular, whereas traditional maps were limited to outdoor information, 3D maps are aiming not only to include indoor spaces but also to link outdoors and indoors seamlessly.<\/p>\n

Lee explained that \u201cour perspective on the world through maps will change.\u201d Yet a transformation this significant does not promise only positive outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce built, a 3D map becomes data that almost perfectly reflects the state of reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

CEO Kim voiced concern about 3D maps. We are moving toward data that combine 3D building structures and spatial forms with the movements of people and objects.<\/p>\n

Lee of Naver Labs noted, \u201cIt\u2019s important to comply with domestic laws on point cloud data while using it as national infrastructure to foster industry,\u201d adding, \u201cFrom a security standpoint as well, we need to build 3D maps using domestic companies\u2019 technologies.\u201d Map data could again become the focus of debate over sovereignty and industrial protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest concern is the misuse of information.\u201d Im pointed out that 3D maps can be abused in two ways: for security threats and privacy violations. Because 3D maps incorporate building heights, structures, and positions combined with precise coordinates, they offer significant potential for military use.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, 3D maps that seamlessly connect building exteriors and interiors can trigger serious privacy issues. A fully realized 3D map model could do more than reveal interior layouts through open windows; it could infer the indoor temperature and how energy circulates within the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, however, 3D mapping is focusing on public spaces, and for high-security facilities, not all spatial information is disclosed,\u201d Im explained.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, 3D maps may not be built solely for humans. \u201cAbove all, 3D maps will converge with artificial intelligence (AI),\u201d Professor Lee predicted, expecting 3D maps to play a major role in AI\u2019s path toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially, we trained AI models solely on language or solely on images. Eventually, AI will be able to recognize everything humans see and sense. There is nothing better than a digital twin for training such models. We need to imagine the impact when 3D maps evolve beyond powering specific industries and instead become data used by \u2018everyone.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The future of maps calls to mind \u201cOn Exactitude in Science\u201d (\u201cDel rigor en la ciencia\u201d), a short story written in 1946 by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. In the story, cartographers, striving for ever greater accuracy, ultimately create a map at a 1:1 scale. That map, the same size as reality itself, proves useless and is abandoned in the desert.<\/p>\n

Could Borges have imagined that the 1:1 scale map he conceived as a satirical fable would one day be realized under the names of spatial information and digital twins? We are still living in the age of maps.<\/p>\n

&ast;Related article (in Korean)
Science Donga, May issue, [Current Affairs Feature] From 1:5000 to 1:1, from 2D to 3D: The Future of Maps and Maps of the Future<\/p>\n

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