Woman gets Kia Soul after passing drive test on 960th try
09-08-10, 11:05 AM
#1
Woman gets Kia Soul after passing drive test on 960th try
Woman gets Kia Soul after passing drive test on 960th try
We like to think of ourselves as pretty determined folk here the United States. After all, our forebearers forged our country out of a wild and unsettling terrain, fought off tyrants, cooked up some of the most amazing inventions of the last century and helped populate a symbol of diversity and freedom renowned the world over. That doesn't mean that we'd willingly subject ourselves to the DMV 960 times, however. Yet that's exactly what a Korean woman, Cha Sa-soon, did on her quest to obtain her driver's license. Despite copious studying, the 69-year-old Cha just couldn't manage to get past the written portion of the exam.
In April 2005, she began taking the 50-minute, 40-question test once a day, five days week, failing each time. Eventually her pace slowed to taking the test twice a week, but on the 960th try, she managed to get enough of the questions right to pass.
Local news outlets ran with the story, and it wasn't long before the tale caught the ear of Hyundai-Kia. The company asked people to post congratulatory messages online, and after an overwhelming response, Kia handed her the keys to a brand-new Soul.
We like her style.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/08/w...-on-960th-try/
09-08-10, 11:14 AM
#3
960 times! That's gotta be a misprint. What's even harder to believe is that she was allowed to take the test that many times, and furthermore that she was given a license. Maybe she should have spent some time studying instead of taking the test over and over again every day.
Per Google search of her name,
Per Google search of her name,
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09-08-10, 12:50 PM
#8
Perhaps there was a language barrier that made it hard for her to pass the written portion? It sounds like she passed the road portion of the test.
The state of MA makes you pass the written portion before you're even allowed to take the road portion. The written exam costs $30 each time.
The state of MA makes you pass the written portion before you're even allowed to take the road portion. The written exam costs $30 each time.
09-08-10, 12:52 PM
#9
No worries for most of us. She lives in South Korea.
I can't help but think that this is an example of the infinite monkey theorem ... "If you give an infinite number of typewriters to an infinite number of monkeys, one of them is bound to reproduce Hamlet."
I can't help but think that this is an example of the infinite monkey theorem ... "If you give an infinite number of typewriters to an infinite number of monkeys, one of them is bound to reproduce Hamlet."
09-08-10, 02:09 PM
#13
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Just wanted to point out that passing the driver's test in Korea is ridiculously hard compared to a US driver's license exam. When I went for my license, I skimmed through the manual, got my permit on the first try, drove for six months with one of my parents and got my driver's license on the first try. No problem.
In S.Korea, you literally have to study the driver's license exam manual. They ask some weird scenario problems. There are, of course, easy questions as well. But unlike the US exam (I'm comparing to my PA license experience), passing the written portion is very difficult. The written exam itself can take up to an hour. My permit test took me less than 5 minutes.
The practical portion of the exam is done on a course in a large pickup with manual gearbox (automatic is NOT an option). They test you on uphill/downhill, maintaining speed, maneuvering very tight turns, and the parallel parking portion is difficult as well. They need to have the vehicle parked in the parallel spot, no more than 6 inches from the curb, with no more than 3 reverses.
All in all, getting a driver's license in S. Korea is FAR harder than getting one here.
But damn.... 960?
In S.Korea, you literally have to study the driver's license exam manual. They ask some weird scenario problems. There are, of course, easy questions as well. But unlike the US exam (I'm comparing to my PA license experience), passing the written portion is very difficult. The written exam itself can take up to an hour. My permit test took me less than 5 minutes.
The practical portion of the exam is done on a course in a large pickup with manual gearbox (automatic is NOT an option). They test you on uphill/downhill, maintaining speed, maneuvering very tight turns, and the parallel parking portion is difficult as well. They need to have the vehicle parked in the parallel spot, no more than 6 inches from the curb, with no more than 3 reverses.
All in all, getting a driver's license in S. Korea is FAR harder than getting one here.
But damn.... 960?
09-08-10, 02:45 PM
#14
Just wanted to point out that passing the driver's test in Korea is ridiculously hard compared to a US driver's license exam. When I went for my license, I skimmed through the manual, got my permit on the first try, drove for six months with one of my parents and got my driver's license on the first try. No problem.
In S.Korea, you literally have to study the driver's license exam manual. They ask some weird scenario problems. There are, of course, easy questions as well. But unlike the US exam (I'm comparing to my PA license experience), passing the written portion is very difficult. The written exam itself can take up to an hour. My permit test took me less than 5 minutes.
The practical portion of the exam is done on a course in a large pickup with manual gearbox (automatic is NOT an option). They test you on uphill/downhill, maintaining speed, maneuvering very tight turns, and the parallel parking portion is difficult as well. They need to have the vehicle parked in the parallel spot, no more than 6 inches from the curb, with no more than 3 reverses.
All in all, getting a driver's license in S. Korea is FAR harder than getting one here.
But damn.... 960?
In S.Korea, you literally have to study the driver's license exam manual. They ask some weird scenario problems. There are, of course, easy questions as well. But unlike the US exam (I'm comparing to my PA license experience), passing the written portion is very difficult. The written exam itself can take up to an hour. My permit test took me less than 5 minutes.
The practical portion of the exam is done on a course in a large pickup with manual gearbox (automatic is NOT an option). They test you on uphill/downhill, maintaining speed, maneuvering very tight turns, and the parallel parking portion is difficult as well. They need to have the vehicle parked in the parallel spot, no more than 6 inches from the curb, with no more than 3 reverses.
All in all, getting a driver's license in S. Korea is FAR harder than getting one here.
But damn.... 960?
09-08-10, 03:11 PM
#15
Everyone has already posted their comments on how she shouldn't be driving. But I do give Kudos to Hyundai-Kia for making a generous contribution. Probably because they knew she spent all of her money on the test and felt bad for her. Since she finally has a license I guess she needs something to drive. 