IPhone Can't Be Tracked In South Korea Due To Find My Restrictions

Find My from Apple, can not be used in South Korea (photo: x @9tana)

JAKARTA - iPhone users in South Korea face significant problems if they lose their device. Apples Find My, a feature that allows missing iPhone tracking, is not working in the country. This problem does not only apply to iPhones sold in South Korea, but also to iPhones brought to the country from outside.

According to a recent report, all iPhones made specifically for the South Korean market have a permanently disabled Find My feature. Even if users take their iPhone overseas, Find My remains unusable if the device is created for South Korea. This issue also affects international iPhone users visiting South Korea, where the Find My feature is also disabled.

These limitations make it difficult for users to track their devices if they are lost, as well as to share location data with their friends. Discussions in Apple's support forum show that the reason behind these restrictions is related to local regulations. However, notes on Find My's current support page state that "share locations is not supported in South Korea and may not be available in other areas due to local law."

There is uncertainty over the reasons behind this policy. Some consider that these restrictions may be more related to Apple's internal policies than local legal requirements. Apple claims that these restrictions are not due to violations of the Location Information Act, but because of their own internal policies.

This issue creates confusion given that Samsung, which is Apple's main competitor in South Korea, does not face similar restrictions on their Find My feature. This suggests possible differences in the privacy and legal compliance approach between companies.

The head of the South Korean Department of Land previously rejected Apple's request to issue high-precision map data from the country, citing security concerns. In addition, Apple was fined around 150,000 US dollars in June 2024 for alleged tracking of location data.

User disappointment has also increased as Apple continues to sell AirTags, a tracking device connected to Find My network, through their online store in South Korea, although key location tracking features are not available in the country.