Published : Aug. 9, 2010 - 18:14
Cha Sa-sun, 69, who failed her driver’s license test some 960 times before passing it earlier this year, received a free Soul vehicle from Hyundai-Kia Motors Group on Friday.
Hyundai Motor, which is conducting a philanthropic campaign to give away cars to those in need, chose her as a recipient.
Since 2005, Cha has failed the written test some 950 times and the driving test 10 times. Both tests are required to obtain a driver’s license. Yet she continued trying out for the tests with perseverance and finally acquired the license in May. Her story drew a lot of attention, even making headlines in foreign media including the New York Times and Reuters.
Cha Sa-sun poses with a Soul vehicle she received for free from Hyundai-Kia Motor Group in Wanju, North Jeolla Province,on Friday. (Yonhap News)
Hyundai Motors also acknowledged Cha’s passion and decided to give a free Soul vehicle under the campaign, but on the condition that netizens post up more than 100 messages a day rooting for her at the campaign’s blog for a certain period.
Netizens responded with enthusiasm, posting as many as 3,000 messages a day, saying that they were very impressed with Cha’s story.
Other recipients of the campaign were the Jindo Middle and High School weightlifting team who had to take a long public bus ride whenever they participated in a competition and two physically handicapped, positive-minded boys living in a Buddhist welfare facility in Seunggawon.
By Koh Young-aah (
youngaah@heraldcorp.com)