Seoul, Feb 27 (NationPress) The recent decision by South Korea to permit the global technology leader Google to export government-provided high-precision map data appears to be linked to the nation's attempts to alleviate U.S. worries regarding non-tariff obstacles, industry analysts noted on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the South Korean government greenlighted Google's appeal to transfer high-precision map data at a scale of 1:5,000 to its facilities abroad, with additional security measures in place, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

Previously, Seoul had denied similar requests made by Google in 2007 and 2016, citing concerns that sensitive locations, including military installations, could be compromised.

The prospect of Seoul altering its position gained renewed interest amid trade discussions with the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, who has adopted a strict approach to tariff-related matters.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has consistently pointed out South Korea's limitations on the international transfer of location-based data as a significant non-tariff barrier impacting American digital service providers.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun informed lawmakers that USTR representative Jamieson Greer cautioned that Washington might increase reciprocal tariffs on South Korea from the current 15 percent back to 25 percent if no advancements are made in resolving non-tariff barriers.

"The government had long postponed granting Google's request on national security grounds, but pressure regarding trade and tariffs from the U.S. has intensified in recent times," stated Wi Jong-hyun, a professor at Chung-Ang University's College of Virtual Convergence.

Additional non-tariff issues raised by the U.S. include South Korea's proposed regulations on digital platforms, agricultural quarantine policies, and automotive certification standards.

This governmental decision has reportedly put domestic platform companies, such as Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp., which currently offer more extensive and competitive map services than Google, on high alert.

Industry experts have cautioned that permitting the overseas transfer of high-resolution map data without mandating foreign firms to set up domestic data centers could jeopardize fair competition.

The Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science recently estimated that the international transfer of high-precision map data could lead to cumulative losses ranging from 150 trillion won (approximately $104.5 billion) to 197 trillion won over a decade across eight different industrial sectors.

Government officials are said to have considered potential economic benefits, including those related to attracting international tourists, given that the usage of Google Maps in South Korea is currently limited due to the absence of high-precision map information.

"The government's decision could act as a catalyst for boosting South Korea's tourism sector," remarked Kim Deuk-gap, a professor at the Institute for East and West Studies at Yonsei University.

"Improved Google Maps services are anticipated to greatly enhance travel convenience for foreign visitors, potentially attracting more tourists and distributing tourism demand beyond Seoul, thereby supporting local tourism economies."