NAVER Partners with the National Geographic Information Institute to Lead Innovation in Korea’s Geospatial Information Industry and Build High-Precision Maps
NAVER Partners with the National Geographic Information Institute to Lead Innovation in Korea’s Geospatial Information Industry and Build High-Precision Maps
NAVER Partners with the National Geographic Information Institute to Lead Innovation in Korea’s Geospatial Information Industry and Build High-Precision Maps
- NAVER and NAVER LABS have signed an MOU with the National Geographic Information Institute to promote the use of national geospatial data and revitalize the geospatial information industry
- NAVER’s world-class “spatial intelligence” technology will integrate with national datasets to enhance user convenience and invigorate the geospatial information ecosystem
May 14, 2025
NAVER’s high-precision mapping technology is expected to accelerate innovation in Korea’s geospatial industry and invigorate the national geospatial ecosystem.
NAVER Corporation (CEO Choi Soo-yeon) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII; Director General Cho Woo-seok) to promote the use of national geospatial data and revitalize the geospatial information industry. Under this agreement, NAVER will actively develop daily-use services aimed at improving public convenience and advancing geospatial-based technologies.
[Photo] NAVER Vice President Choi Seung-Lak (left), NGII Director General Cho Woo-seok (center), and NAVER LABS Vice President Lee Dong-hwan (right)
The MOU seeks to integrate NGII’s national geospatial datasets with NAVER LABS’s cutting-edge digital twin technology and the NAVER Map platform’s capabilities to transform geospatial services and establish a sustainable, public–private cooperative ecosystem. To achieve this, the three parties will form a geospatial council and collaborate on a range of initiatives to build and enhance the use of high-precision geospatial information.
With the integration of NGII’s national geospatial assets, including aerial imagery, satellite and orthophoto data, 3D geospatial layers, and indoor spatial data, with NAVER LABS’s cutting-edge spatial intelligence technologies, such as its city-scale digital twin solution, the precision, location accuracy, and scalability of national geospatial data are expected to significantly improve. Building on these high-quality data assets, NAVER plans to develop location-based services and provide practical features, such as 3Din maps and integrated indoor-outdoor navigation, via the NAVER Map platform, elevating user experience and convenience.
In addition, the three parties agreed to strengthen public–private cooperation in the geospatial data field, recognizing that geospatial data is a critical infrastructure directly linked to national technological competitiveness. They plan to establish a robust infrastructure that enables public institutions, research centers, and startups to better harness geospatial data while also supporting R&D and the broader dissemination of emerging technologies. These efforts are expected to contribute to the growth of key future industries, including smart cities, O2O services, autonomous mobility, digital twins, and AR/VR technologies.
NGII Director General Cho Woo-seok stated, “High-precision mapping data is a core infrastructure for future innovation industries. Through collaboration with NAVER, which is globally recognized for its advanced mapping technology, we expect to elevate Korea’s mapping capabilities to a world-class level.” He continued, “This partnership will serve as a springboard for advancing Korea’s geospatial industry, with increased private-sector investment in areas such as real-time location data updates and the development of integrated services.”
NAVER CEO Choi Soo-yeon commented, “Through our close partnership with NGII, we will strive to evolve NAVER’s mapping platform and spatial intelligence technologies into even more innovative services.” She added, “As Korea’s leading Internet platform company, we will be committed to advancing the technologies we’ve long developed so that they can contribute to enhancing user experience and driving national industrial competitiveness.”
