Making Cars by Making Nice

On April 30, General Motors Corp. Chairman John Smith stood on a stage in the posh ballroom of the Seoul Hilton Hotel, waiting to announce a long-sought deal to acquire South Korea's bankrupt Daewoo Motor Co. GM, the biggest automaker in the world, planned to celebrate in style: a signing ceremony with 150 guests, a screening of a specially made video called Infinite Possibilities , and a champagne reception for such dignitaries as the U.S. ambassador to Korea. But before the festivities could begin, the doors to the ballroom burst open and in rushed 70 angry members of the Daewoo salesmen's union....