Meet the Legend: Cha Sa-soon, Who Earned Her Licence After 960 Attempts, Spending $4,200 & Five Years of Daily Written Tests
The story of Cha Sa-soon, a South Korean woman who earned her driver’s licence after 960 attempts, continues to inspire millions around the world more than a decade later.
Sa-soon, who was 68 when she began her driving journey, first attempted her written exam in April 2005.
Determined to succeed, she sat for the test every weekday—sometimes up to five times a week—over four years.
After 949 unsuccessful tries, she finally achieved the required 60 out of 100 points on her 950th attempt.
Reports indicate that her persistence came at a cost—she spent about 5 million won (approximately R62 000 today) in application fees before moving on to the practical stage.
Even then, success did not come easily; she failed the driving test 10 times before finally passing on her 11th attempt in 2010, at the age of 69.
The Korea Times noted that Sa-soon’s main motivation for obtaining a licence was to buy a vehicle to help her transport and sell vegetables in her village.
Her story drew national attention after her 775th failure, turning her into a symbol of perseverance.
Reflecting on her long journey, Sa-soon told Reuters: “I believe you can achieve your goal if you persistently pursue it. So don’t give up your dream, like me. Be strong and do your best.”
