I Thought One Failure Was the End
I still remember failing my first driving test. I sat in my car afterward, staring at the dash, replaying every mistake. I told myself I wasn’t cut out for it. One fail felt huge back then.
Then I read about Cha Sa-soon.
Suddenly, my story didn’t sound dramatic at all.
Cha Sa-soon failed her driving test not once, not twice, but around 950 times before she finally passed. She spent about $14,000 on test fees and lessons. And she didn’t quit. Not even close.
That’s the part people stop on. But there’s more to it.
Why She Needed a License So Badly
Cha wasn’t chasing freedom or fun. She sold vegetables for a living in a rural part of South Korea. No car meant fewer customers. Fewer customers meant less money. Simple as that.
Public buses didn’t run often where she lived. Walking wasn’t an option. Getting a license wasn’t a dream. It was work. It was survival.
So she showed up.
Every week.
Almost every day.
The Numbers That Shocked Everyone
Here’s what we know from reports over the years:
- She started trying in 2005
- She took the written test almost five days a week
- She failed the written exam hundreds of times
- She passed the written part in 2009
- She passed the driving test in 2010
- She was about 69 years old
- Total attempts: about 950 to 960
- Total cost: estimates range from $4,000 to $14,000
People still argue over the exact number. Some count only the written tests. Others count everything.
Either way, it’s a number that makes people pause.
When the Internet Found Her
Years later, her story started popping up online. Then it went everywhere.
Some people loved it.
“I quit after two tries. She went back 900 times.”
“This is what not giving up looks like.”
“She earned that license.”
Others weren’t impressed at all.
“If you fail that much, maybe you shouldn’t drive.”
“This sounds unsafe.”
“At some point, the test isn’t the problem.”
One comment I saw stuck with me:
“She didn’t pass the test. She wore it down.”
That line got shared everywhere.
The Memes Came Fast
Once the internet grabs a story like this, it runs with it.
People joked about memorizing answers by muscle memory.
Others posted photos of empty test rooms with captions like “Day 947.”
Some compared her to students retaking finals or people stuck in long paperwork loops.
I saw one post that said, “I gave up on my gym membership faster than this.”
Funny, sure. But also telling.
The People Who Watched Her Up Close
What gets missed online is what her instructors saw.
They watched her come back again and again. They knew her name. They knew her story. When she finally passed, they didn’t roll their eyes.
They cheered.
They hugged her.
They gave her flowers.
Not because they felt bad for her.
Because they knew how long she’d tried.
Then Hyundai Stepped In
Her story spread far past South Korea. News outlets picked it up around the world. Social feeds lit up.
Hyundai noticed too.
The company gave her a new car. After nearly a thousand tries, she finally had one of her own to drive.
That detail feels unreal. But it happened.
The Question No One Agrees On
This story splits people every time it comes back.
Is trying forever a good thing?
Or should there be a limit, especially when safety matters?
Some folks say effort should always count. Others say rules exist for a reason. I’ve seen both sides argue hard.
There were also rumors online about small crashes after she got her license. No solid proof. No confirmed reports. Just talk that keeps popping up when the story trends again.
That’s the thing with stories like this. They don’t sit still.
Why This Story Won’t Go Away
Cha Sa-soon’s name keeps coming back every few years.
Usually when:
- People are stressed about tests
- Folks feel stuck in long systems
- Someone feels like giving up
Her story becomes a shortcut for grit.
Failed an exam three times?
“Still fewer than Cha Sa-soon.”
Stuck in a long process?
“She didn’t quit either.”
It turns into comfort. Or a warning. Depends how you see it.
How It Hit Me
I’ll be honest. I don’t know if I could do what she did.
Nine hundred tries?
Five days a week?
Years of failing in public?
Most of us walk away long before that.
But I can’t ignore this part: she knew why she needed that license. And she didn’t let shame stop her.
That’s rare.
The Part That Stays With Me
This isn’t just a driving story. It’s about systems, patience, and how long people are willing to wait for a basic thing others get fast.
Some will call her unsafe.
Some will call her brave.
Both reactions make sense.
But the next time I mess up, or think about quitting something hard, I think of her walking into that test center again. Smiling. Sitting down. Trying one more time.
And suddenly, my one bad day doesn’t feel so big.
