SEOUL -- South Korean corporate giants Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and LG Electronics are moving production out of China, in an effort to reduce an overdependence that has left them vulnerable to a combination of local competition, geopolitical friction and economic headwinds hitting even the largest players hard.
"It's like they held out this long to avoid giving the Chinese government a bad impression, but now they can't take it anymore," said a source at a major Japanese financial institution that frequently deals with South Korean companies.