News: 0178616712

  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

South Korea Postpones Decision To Let Google Maps Work Properly - Again (theguardian.com)

(Friday August 08, 2025 @05:22PM (msmash) from the tussle-continues dept.)


South Korea [1]postponed a decision for the second time this year on Friday regarding Google's request to export detailed mapping data to overseas servers, which would enable full Google Maps functionality in the country. The inter-agency committee extended the deadline from August to October to allow further review of security concerns and consultations with industry stakeholders.

South Korea remains one of only a handful of countries alongside China and North Korea where Google Maps fails to function properly, unable to provide directions despite displaying landmarks and businesses. Tourism complaints increased 71% last year, with Google Maps accounting for 30% of all app-related grievances, while local industry groups representing 2,600 companies report 90% opposition to Google's request due to fears of market domination by the US tech company.



[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/08/south-korea-google-maps-geographic-data-restrictions



Yep (Score:2)

by jrnvk ( 4197967 )

Went there at the later part of last decade and was stunned at how limited it was. At least Apple Maps worked, but I really never thought it would be the same situation still in 2025.

... it is easy to be blinded to the essential uselessness of them by the
sense of achievement you get from getting them to work at all. In other
words... their fundamental design flaws are completely hidden by their
superficial design flaws.
-- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, on the products
of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.