An elderly woman in South Korea, Cha Sa-soon, failed her driving test almost a thousand times, racking up 959 fails before finally managing to pass it on her 960th try.
The elderly woman’s story happened many years ago, but her story went viral recently on social media after it was brought up on social media as an example of the fruits of being tenacious in your goals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the elderly woman had tried the written test for the first time back in 13 April 2005 but failed, before retaking the exam about 5 days a week for the next three years.
She then took the written test twice a week before finally passing it on her 860th try, before moving on to the practical session, which also proved challenging to her – she took the practical test about 10 times before finally passing.
According to media reports, Cha took a total of 960 attempts to finally get her driver’s license, spending more than 5 million won (SGD$5,100) along the way.
The employees at her driving school, Jeonbuk Driving School, were reportedly overcome with joy and happiness when their elderly student finally passed and got her driver’s license.
All of them ran out cheering and hugging the elderly woman and giving her flowers, with her driving instructor saying that it felt like “a huge burden falling off our backs.”
Hyundai even gave Cha a vehicle worth about SGD$18,000 as a gift for her determination to pass her driving test.
However, according to a netizen, Cha had purportedly gotten into 4 separate car crashes with her new car, of which three were against stationary objects, all within a single year.
Her license was purportedly revoked after that.
Netizens’ comments
- Oh I remember a backstory to this. Kia was so impressed by this and gave the old lady a new Kia Soul. She crashed and totaled it within a month. Needless to say the license was revoked within a short time.
- I believe if you take a test nearly 1,000 times, you might have the whole thing committed to memory at that point.
- At that point you have to wonder whether she passed because she understands the material or because of a fluke.
- I wouldn’t want someone who has failed over ~5 times to be on the same road as me, not to mention 960.
- I personally believe if you fail your driving test, or any part of your driving test, more than 10 times, you should never be allowed to drive. There has to be a point before 960 times where someone decides that driving just aint for you.
- There should be a cap on how many tries ypu can have. Would not want to meet this person in traffic
Images source: Yonhap News Agency and TheQoo.net