Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has issued urgent orders to multiple government ministries to immediately demand that Google correct a serious mislabeling error on Google Maps. The tech giant's mapping service incorrectly identifies the Dokdo Museum on Ulleung Island, located off South Korea's eastern coast, as the "Kim Il-sung Memorial Hall (Annex)." This grave error associates a South Korean cultural institution with the founder of North Korea, creating a diplomatic and cultural controversy.
The prime minister's directive was specifically addressed to three key government departments: the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. His office released an official press statement detailing the comprehensive response plan to address this significant mapping error that misrepresents South Korean territory and cultural heritage.
In addition to demanding an immediate correction, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has instructed the ministries to convey the government's "strong regret" regarding this mislabeling incident. The government agencies have been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of how such an error occurred in the first place. Understanding the source of this mistake is considered crucial for preventing similar incidents in the future.
The prime minister has also emphasized the need for the ministries to make a "strong request" to Google to implement measures that will prevent any recurrence of such mislabeling issues. This directive reflects South Korea's serious concern about the accuracy of geographical and cultural information displayed on widely-used digital platforms, particularly when it involves sensitive political and territorial matters related to North Korea.
