South Korean Woman Sets Unbelievable Record By Passing Driving Test After 960 Attempts
Many give up after failing once or twice, but not Cha Sa-soon. Born in South Korea, this determined grandmother made headlines worldwide in 2010 when she finally obtained her driving license after an astonishing 960 attempts at various tests. Starting her journey in April 2005 at age 65, Cha persisted through nearly five years of continuous testing before succeeding at age 69. Her story recently resurfaced on Reddit, capturing attention across social media platforms and inspiring a new generation with her remarkable tenacity.
Now in her 80s, Cha holds an official Guinness World Record for “most driving theory tests taken” – a testament to her unwavering commitment. While many would have abandoned their goal after just a few failures, Cha approached each new test with optimism and resolve, viewing her daily commute to the testing center as an educational opportunity she had missed in her youth.
Village Life Challenges
Cha Sa-soon grew up in difficult circumstances. She was born into a low-income farming family with seven children. Financial hardships forced her to drop out of middle school to work in her family’s fields—an early sacrifice that limited her educational opportunities but developed her resilience.
Living in Sinchon, a mountainous village with limited accessibility, Cha faced practical transportation difficulties daily. Public transit consisted of a single bus operating every two hours on highly narrow roads designed for one-way traffic. This presented significant business challenges for someone selling homegrown vegetables to support herself.
Her motivation for pursuing a license stemmed from practical needs: maintaining her vegetable-selling business and gaining independence. She also harbored a heartwarming wish to take her grandchildren to the zoo – a simple desire that fueled her extraordinary persistence.
“I always missed school,” Cha told reporters, explaining how she viewed her daily trips to the testing center as filling an educational void from her childhood. Each failure became merely another day of learning rather than a setback.
Four Years, 960 Tests
Cha’s testing marathon began in April 2005 with an ambitious schedule. During the first three years, she took the theory test daily, five days per week. Eventually, she reduced her testing frequency to twice weekly but maintained steady commitment.
Each test costs approximately S$7.69, accumulating to a staggering financial investment estimated at 5 million won (roughly S$5,125 or US$4,200-13,500, depending on exchange rates). Most people would consider this expense prohibitive, but Cha viewed it as an investment in her future independence.
South Korean driving tests require a minimum score of 60 out of 100 points to pass the theory section – a benchmark Cha finally achieved on her 950th attempt in 2009. However, her journey continued as she faced the practical driving components, failing each one at least four times before finally securing her full license in 2010.
During this marathon testing period, Cha never displayed frustration or defeat. According to her instructors, she maintained a cheerful disposition throughout and approached each new test with fresh determination.
From Student to Celebrity
When Cha finally passed her tests, the reaction at Jeonbuk Driving School was jubilant. “When she finally got her license, we all went out in cheers and hugged her, giving her flowers,” Park Su-yeon, an instructor, told The New York Times in 2010. “It felt like a huge burden falling off our back. We didn’t have the guts to tell her to quit because she kept showing up.”
Another instructor, Lee Chang Su, added: “It drove you crazy to teach her, but we could not get mad at her. She was always cheerful. She still had the little girl in her.”
Her extraordinary persistence captured international media attention, transforming this humble grandmother into a global symbol of determination. In November 2020, Guinness World Records officially recognized her achievement, highlighting her record for “most driving theory tests taken,” Asian American news site NextShark reported.
South Korean automotive giant Hyundai recognized the marketing potential in Cha’s inspirational story and gifted her a brand new car worth approximately S$21,200 (US$16,800). Subsequently, she starred in a popular commercial campaign for the company, bringing her unlikely fame in her senior years.
Mixed Public Reactions
Cha’s story generates diverse reactions across social media and news platforms. Many find profound inspiration in her persistence, viewing her as an embodiment of the “never give up” mindset.
However, her struggle also raised legitimate safety concerns. Some questioned whether someone requiring 960 attempts to pass driving tests should operate a vehicle on public roads. “This shows that she is really not safe, suitable to hold a driving license,” read one comment. Another observed: “I don’t think this is funny. [It] took her so much time to complete the course, probably will endanger others on the road.”
These concerns gained validity when South Korea’s Yonhap News reported in May 2011 that Cha had experienced at least four minor accidents with stationary objects within her first year of driving. Fortunately, no injuries resulted from these incidents. Reddit users had particularly amusing takes on her persistence. User Acres-of-Skin commented, “I believe if you take a test nearly 1,000 times, you might have the whole thing committed to memory at that point.”
Another Redditor named diacewrb suggested a different theory altogether: “Or the examiner got fed up of seeing her again for the 960th time.”
Some commenters provided cultural context, with user CivilPerspective6068 noting: “Drove in Korea before, their roads are super complicated. Cannot compare with Singapore’s. But still…”
Other commenters debated whether she truly mastered driving concepts or simply memorized test answers through repetition. “At that point you have to wonder whether she passed because she understands the material or because of a fluke,” one Redditor observed.
Persistence Pays Off
Regardless of driving proficiency debates, Cha’s story powerfully illustrates persistence against overwhelming odds. Many would consider failing a test 959 times conclusive evidence of inability, yet Cha refused to accept this limitation.
Her achievement challenges assumptions about age barriers, demonstrating that senior citizens can acquire new skills despite societal expectations. Many older adults abandon learning pursuits, believing themselves too old to master new concepts, but Cha proves otherwise.
For Cha, the driving license represented more than transportation – it symbolized access to educational opportunities missed in her youth due to economic circumstances. “I didn’t mind,” she said about her years of testing. “To me, commuting every day to take the test was like going to school.”
Her story holds particular cultural significance in South Korea, a society that highly values academic achievement and educational credentials. Cha earned her form of educational certification through unconventional means despite her limited formal schooling.
Viral Decade Later
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Cha Sa-soon’s story is its enduring impact over a decade later. While initially making headlines in 2010, her achievement continues to find new audiences as it circulates through social media platforms like Reddit, inspiring fresh conversations about persistence, aging, and determination.
Her narrative resonates across cultural boundaries, touching universal themes of perseverance against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Few people encounter 959 failures before experiencing success, making Cha’s story an extreme example of human tenacity.
For those facing repeated setbacks in their pursuits, Cha offers a powerful reminder that each failure represents another step toward eventual success rather than evidence of impossibility. Her unwavering commitment transforms a seemingly embarrassing record of failures into an inspirational achievement worthy of worldwide recognition.
Cha Sa-soon’s extraordinary journey from struggling grandmother to Guinness World Record holder, commercial star, and global inspiration proves that persistence often matters more than natural aptitude when pursuing meaningful goals. Her story reminds us that our limits frequently exist mainly in our willingness to accept them as final.
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