Google Maps is finally going to bring turn-by-turn navigation to Korea

Google Maps is set to introduce turn-by-turn navigation in South Korea, addressing a key gap in its services. According to The Korea Herald, the search giant has appointed a new "Strategic Partnerships Development Manager" to collaborate with the Google Maps team on this initiative. The manager's role will involve liaising with private companies and public entities to facilitate the rollout of the full service in the country.

Currently, Google Maps in South Korea is limited to providing information on locations, reviews, and public transit directions. The absence of turn-by-turn navigation is a significant factor contributing to Google Maps' lower user base in the country, where local alternatives Naver Map and Kakao Map have up to three times more users.

In a statement, Google confirmed that plans are underway to roll out the complete Google Maps functionality, including turn-by-turn directions, to South Korea. This move comes after the South Korean government granted Google's request to utilize high-precision map data from overseas servers, subject to the exclusion of military and similar sensitive facilities. Additionally, Google will disable latitude and longitude coordinates in the country, as noted by Reuters.