South Korea Archives | Trendbrio.com

Why doesn’t Google Maps work in one of Asia’s most developed, tourist-friendly countries?

Why Google Maps Doesn’t Work Properly in Asia And South Korea

Fola Badmus2 weeks ago2 weeks ago03 mins

Despite being a global tech hub, South Korea restricts Google Maps from offering full navigation services like driving or walking directions. This forces visitors to rely on local apps such as Naver Map and Kakao Map. The core issue is that Google cannot access South Korea’s detailed 1:5,000 scale map data, which is necessary for turn-by-turn navigation. Google has been requesting access since 2016, but the South Korean government has consistently denied these requests. The official reason given is national security. Authorities argue that exporting detailed map data to foreign servers could reveal sensitive military and government sites, a concern heightened by the country’s proximity to North Korea. However, critics say these risks are exaggerated, especially since the same data is already used by domestic apps and satellite imagery is widely available from third-party providers. Beyond security, broader issues are at play. South Korea is keen on maintaining digital sovereignty and supporting its domestic tech industry. Companies like Kakao and Naver have raised concerns that Google’s entry could dominate the market and threaten local businesses. Moreover, there’s little domestic pressure to approve Google’s request, as most South Koreans already rely on local apps, and the change would primarily benefit foreign tourists. For tourists, this limitation can be frustrating. Language barriers and inconsistent English translations in Korean apps make them harder to use. Real-time walking directions and easy-to-search locations, standard in Google Maps elsewhere, are often unavailable. A South Korean government council is expected to decide on Google’s latest request by October 2025. Most analysts expect another rejection unless Google offers significant security concessions or the South Korean government sees strategic value in approving it, especially amid ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. This situation reflects a broader debate about data ownership, national interest, and the influence of global tech giants. As more countries assert control over their digital infrastructure, similar cases may emerge elsewhere in the world.

Breaking: 176 dead in South Korea Plane crash

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago05 mins

At least 176 people were killed after a passenger jet crash-landed at an airport in South Korea on Sunday morning, authorities said. Jeju Air flight 2216 was landing at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time when the plane went off the runway and crashed into a wall. There were a total of 175 passengers and six crew members aboard the Boeing 737 aircraft, which had taken off from Bangkok, according to the Korean Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport. The official death toll, which has been provided by the National Fire Agency, has steadily climbed in the hours since the crash. The transport ministry was on the scene investigating the cause of the crash, and details of what happened were beginning to come into focus. Prior to the plane’s crash landing, the control tower issued a warning of a possible bird strike, the ministry said. About a minute after that warning, a pilot sent a mayday distress signal, after which the tower issued permission for the aircraft to land, the ministry said. Video from the scene at the time of the crash appears to show the landing gear was up when the plane touched down, possibly indicating some sort of malfunction, and it also appears the plane landed at a high speed. Videos taken at the scene showed flames and a thick column of dark smoke at the crash site. As of 1 p.m. local time, authorities said the plane had completely burned. A temporary morgue was being set up at the airport. By about 8 p.m., the official death toll had climbed to 176 people, the National Fire Agency said. Eighty-three of the dead were women and 82 were men, the agency said, adding that another 11 bodies remained unidentified. A man and a woman were rescued from the wreckage and were taken to the hospital, according to the transport ministry. Both were crew members, the fire agency said. Their conditions were not released. Initially, there were conflicting reports on the number of people rescued. Jeju Air is a South Korean low-cost carrier that operates an all Boeing fleet, with 42 planes and nearly 3,000 staff. “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport,” Jeju Air said in a notice posted in English on its website. “We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.” The website’s landing page replaced Jeju Air’s logotype, which is usually orange, with an all-black version. Boeing was in contact with Jeju Air regarding the crash and was “standing ready to support them,” a Boeing spokesperson told ABC News. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” the spokesperson said. Muan, a city of roughly 90,000 people, is located in southwest South Korea.