This Privacy Policy describes how K-Map Linker (the "App", package com.kmaplinker) handles your information. We built this app for foreign travelers exploring Korea, and we've kept our data practices deliberately minimal: we do not require accounts, we do not run ads, and we do not maintain a database of your personal information.

The short version K-Map Linker does not collect, store, or sell your personal data. Some features (search, translation, voice) send data to third-party services to process your request, but the data is not retained by us afterward.

Who We Are

K-Map Linker is operated by Joony Kim, an independent (individual) developer based in the Republic of Korea. There is no company, no investors, and no third-party engineering team — just one developer who built this app to help foreign travelers navigate Korea.

For any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at: joonykim69@gmail.com.

Information We Access

The App accesses the following types of information, only when needed for the corresponding feature:

Type When Purpose Stored?
Camera When you tap the QR scan button To read QR codes on business cards or signage No — only the decoded text is used in the moment
Microphone When you tap the voice input button To convert your speech into a search query or translation request No — audio is not recorded or saved
Approximate Location When opening the "How to Get There" feature near airports To detect arrival at Incheon Airport (T1/T2) and show the right transportation card No — location is read once, used locally, and discarded
Search & Translation Text When you type or speak a query To find the matching Korean place or translate your text No — sent to processing partners, not stored by us
App Preferences While you use the App Your selected language and favorites Locally only, on your own device — never transmitted to us

Information We Do Not Collect

To be explicit, K-Map Linker does not:

  • Require any account, registration, login, or sign-in
  • Collect your name, email address, phone number, or date of birth
  • Use Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics, Meta SDK, or any other analytics service
  • Use advertising identifiers (Android Advertising ID / IDFA) or run advertisements
  • Build a user profile or track you across apps or sessions
  • Sell, rent, or share data with marketers or data brokers
  • Use cookies or web tracking technologies

How Your Requests Are Processed

Certain features require sending your input to third-party APIs to return a useful result. These services receive only what is necessary to fulfill the request. We do not pass them any identifier of you personally.

Search & Address Conversion

When you search for a place, your search term is sent to:

  • Kakao Maps Local Search API (Kakao Corp., Republic of Korea) — for Korean place lookup. See Kakao's Privacy Policy.
  • Naver Search API (Naver Corp., Republic of Korea) — fallback for places not found in Kakao. See Naver's Privacy Policy.
  • Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI (Republic of Korea, government-operated) — for verified tourism information.

AI Translation

When you use voice or text translation features, your text is forwarded through a secure proxy hosted on Netlify (Netlify, Inc., United States) to Anthropic's Claude API (Anthropic, PBC, United States). The proxy exists solely to keep our API credentials confidential — it does not log your content. Anthropic processes the text to produce the translation and operates under its own commercial data policies. See Anthropic's Privacy Policy.

Map Links

When you tap a map button, the App opens an external map app (Kakao Map, Naver Map, Google Maps) or your default browser. Once the external app opens, that app's privacy policy applies.

International Data Transfers

Translation requests are processed in the United States by Anthropic. By using the translation features of this App, you understand that the text you submit may be transferred outside your country of residence. Anthropic provides industry-standard safeguards for the data it processes; we do not transfer any other category of data internationally.

Data Retention & Deletion

We do not operate any server that stores your data. There is therefore nothing for us to delete on your behalf. To remove the App's local data (favorites, language preference, search history shown in the App), simply uninstall the App or clear its storage in your device settings.

For data processed by our third-party partners (Kakao, Naver, Anthropic), please refer to each partner's privacy policy. Their retention is governed by them, not us.

Children's Privacy

K-Map Linker is intended for general audiences (travelers in Korea) and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has used the App in a way that would be of concern, please contact us and we will assist where possible.

Your Rights

Because we do not maintain identifiable records of you, the typical data-subject rights (access, correction, deletion, portability) are largely moot — there is no profile of you to access or change. That said, you are always welcome to:

  • Ask us a question about this policy or our practices
  • Request that we clarify any data flow described above
  • Contact our processing partners directly to exercise rights regarding any data they may hold

If you are located in a region with specific data protection laws (e.g., GDPR in the EU/EEA, CCPA in California, PIPA in Korea), those laws apply where required by their own terms, and you may exercise the rights they grant by contacting us.

Security

All network traffic from the App uses HTTPS (TLS). API keys for third-party services are kept on a server-side proxy and are not embedded in the client app. Because we do not store personal data, the surface area for a data breach affecting our users is intentionally minimal.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example to reflect a new feature or a change in our third-party providers. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes, we will provide a clear in-app notice the next time you open the App.

Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns: