The government reviewed the implementation status of security conditions it imposed in connection with Google's overseas transfer of 1:5,000-scale maps. It confirmed that all imposed security conditions, including restrictions on the display of domestic latitude and longitude coordinates, have been met.

The National Geographic Information Institute under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a meeting of the "Consultative Body on Overseas Transfer of Basic Survey Results" on the morning of Nov. 13 and reviewed a report submitted by Google on its implementation of the security conditions. The body comprises relevant ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the foreign ministry, the defence ministry and the National Intelligence Service, as well as private-sector experts.

The government conditionally approved Google's overseas transfer of 1:5,000-scale maps on Feb. 27. Google submitted a final report on Nov. 4 detailing implementation results for related conditions including limits on coordinate displays, security processing of imagery, data processing and a response system for security incidents.

The body confirmed that in the global services of Google Maps and Google Earth provided on the internet and mobile devices, removal and exposure limits of latitude and longitude coordinate displays for South Korean territory have all been implemented. Google developed a dedicated control layer applied only to South Korean territory for this. It also built a preventive system that blocks distribution if coordinate exposure is detected during application updates.

It is also pursuing security processing of imagery for military and security facilities. The government decided it will not directly provide Google with a list of such facilities, taking into account that their location and area are security information. Instead, the government will supply imagery for which it has completed security processing through domestic partner companies, and Google will upload it as is without modification.

Google currently uses overseas commercial satellite imagery and is applying security processing on a temporary basis to some facilities it has identified. It applied the same measures to past time-series imagery on Google Earth. It also deleted Street View for the interior of military and security facilities it processed itself and for roads within 50 metres of their boundaries.

Google signed a contract on Aug. 31 to receive imagery security-processed by the National Geographic Information Institute through domestic partner companies. Once it receives the imagery, additional security processing is expected for some facilities that are not yet masked and for surrounding Street View.

Map data processing will also be carried out domestically. Domestic partner companies will process data on domestic servers into a form that can be uploaded to Google Maps, and Google must reflect it without altering terrain features. The supply will be limited to basic base maps and transportation network data including road networks, road names, the number of lanes and speed limits.

It also prepared a response system for security incidents. Google will designate the head of Google Korea as the domestic map officer in charge and build a system to receive and handle government requests 24 hours a day. If the government finds violations such as exposure of security facilities and requests action, Google will immediately relay it to its headquarters response team and complete measures within 1 business day from the time of receipt.

If a national security-related emergency occurs, such as a large-scale natural disaster or armed conflict, it will, in consultation with the government, implement measures to change zones subject to security processing or disable specific functions.

The government plans to continue monitoring the overseas transfer process for domestically security-processed imagery and processed data. It will also check whether coordinate display restrictions are maintained and whether the security incident response system is operating. If serious non-compliance occurs, it will take measures such as suspending or withdrawing approval.

The body explained that Google now has an obligation to comply with relevant domestic laws while using domestic geospatial information. Accordingly, the government can apply procedures under domestic law, including corrective orders.

Google plans to run a multi-year cooperation programme with domestic companies to promote mutual growth with South Korea's geospatial information industry. The government will support and manage the process so that specific measures for cooperation, including technology cooperation and investment, are established and continuously implemented.