Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
2 min of reading 
0 comments 
An Elderly Woman Faced A Long And Costly Challenge To Obtain Her Driver’s License: There Were 960 Attempts And An Investment Of R$ 70,000. After Years Of Frustrated Attempts, She Finally Achieved Approval, Becoming An Example Of Perseverance.
A South Korean woman passed her driving test after 960 attempts. Cha Sa-soon, 69, spent over R$ 70,000 in the process, which took years.
Her story garnered national attention and went viral again on social media.
Years Of Attempts Without Giving Up
Cha Sa-soon began her journey to obtain a driver’s license in April 2005. At first, she took the theoretical test five times a week.
-
Goodbye heavy pedal, fluid, and traditional hydraulic brake? Brembo is putting Sensify into production, a brake-by-wire system that transforms braking into software and controls each wheel independently without relying on conventional mechanical pressure.
-
End of the Toyota era: with a hybrid engine of up to 235 hp, BYD King surpasses Corolla for the first time in Brazilian retail and accelerates Chinese advancement in the mid-size sedan segment.
-
300 units take the Mitsubishi Triton Terra to the heart of agribusiness, putting a 205 hp pickup with a more rugged look and twin-turbo on the roads, and transforming the limited edition into a new showcase for the competition for strength, presence, and productivity in the field.
-
Brazil records incredible growth in electric cars with a historic 17.7% share in April, and Chinese brands accelerate their dominance over the Brazilian automotive sector in 2026.
For three years, she failed all 780 attempts. After that, she switched to taking the exam only twice a week, until she was finally approved.
Even so, she still needed to pass the practical test. It took another 10 attempts before she could obtain the long-awaited document. In total, she took 960 tests before earning her license.
Determination And Recognition
The reason for her persistence was practical. She needed the license to improve her vegetable selling business. The effort required a significant investment.
Cha Sa-soon’s driving instructor said it was a huge relief when she finally passed. “When she succeeded, we all celebrated. We embraced her and gave her flowers,” he said. “It felt like a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders. We never had the heart to tell her to give up, because she always came back.”
Her perseverance made Cha Sa-soon famous across the country. She even starred in a Hyundai commercial, and the South Korean automaker gifted her a new car valued at around R$85,000.
Repercussions On Social Media
Although the story took place over 15 years ago, it has recently resurfaced on social media. Many internet users reacted with surprise.
Some criticized the number of attempts. “I wouldn’t want to be on the same road as someone who failed that many times,” commented one user.
Another internet user suggested there should be a limit on failures. “If you don’t pass the test after 10 attempts, maybe driving isn’t for you.” On the other hand, some showed empathy. “Falling 959 times and getting up on the 960th. That’s perseverance. But I’m sad, didn’t anyone help her study?,” commented another user.
Cha Sa-soon’s story continues to spark discussions about determination and the challenges of the licensing process in different countries.
Be the first to react!