Newsletter N°88 - April 2026 

A Strategic AI Investment

The new campus will serve as a collaborative hub where Google engineers can share expertise with local startups and researchers. According to presidential policy adviser Kim Yong-beom, the initiative aims to boost innovation in South Korea’s tech ecosystem. This will be Google’s first AI campus outside the United States, highlighting the country’s growing importance in the global AI landscape.

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A History of Tensions

Relations between Google and South Korean regulators have been strained for years, mainly due to disputes over Google Maps.

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The core issue was Google’s request to store high-precision map data on overseas servers.

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• South Korea initially refused due to national security concerns, particularly given its ongoing tensions with North Korea.

• Authorities feared that sensitive locations, such as military bases, could be exposed.

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As a result, Google Maps has historically performed poorly in South Korea due to incomplete data.

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A Recent Breakthrough

In February, both parties reached an agreement that helped resolve this long-standing dispute.
South Korea agreed to allow some data usage, but under strict conditions:

• sensitive military and defense sites must be blurred

• Google must comply with strict security regulations

This compromise paved the way for improved relations and likely enabled the AI campus project.

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Previous Regulatory Action

Tensions were not limited to mapping. In 2021, South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission fined Google $177 million.

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The reason:

• Google was accused of forcing companies like Samsung Electronics to use only approved versions of its Android operating system

• This was seen as anti-competitive behavior

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This case further illustrated the difficult relationship between the company and local regulators.

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