After five years and 271 attempts to pass the theoretical part of his driving test, it was 272nd time lucky for South Korean Seo Sang-moon.

　　Despite all his hard work Mr Seo is still not able to drive. Next he needs to pass the test's practical section.

　　"Driving seems a bit hard. But after trying 271 times to pass, what do I have to be afraid of?" he said.

　　The 69-year-old repairman said he was hampered by illiteracy, which meant he could not read a driving manual.

　　Mr Seo told reporters: "Being a repairman travelling around North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces, the drivers license was a necessity, but I did not dare apply for the written examination because I am illiterate."

　　"Only after 2000, with the introduction of the oral exam, was I able to apply," he said.

　　Mr Seo took the test as often as he could, paying more than 1m won ($1,000) in application fees.

　　Each time he learned a little bit more, until finally, earlier this week, he passed. Officials at the test centre were just as happy as Mr Seo.

　　"He has been coming here for more than five years and we regard him almost as being one of the family," an official from the exam office told reporters.

　　Mr Seo said he was already preparing for his road test at a driving school in Yeongju City.

　　"I am confident," he told reporters. "I'm already discussing with my wife which car we should buy."

　　（Agencies)

　　韩国老先生徐相孟终于在第272次参加驾驶理论考试时顺利通过，在过去5年内他先后参加了271次考试，均以失败告终。

　　尽管徐先生非常努力，可他目前仍然不能开车。下一步他需要通过驾驶考试的实际操作部分。

　　他说：“驾驶似乎有点难。但是为了通过理论考试我尝试了271次，还有什么好怕的呢？”

　　这名69岁高龄的修理工说他因为不识字，所以很难通过考试。因为不识字，他无法阅读驾驶手册。

　　徐老先生告诉记者说：“对于一名往来于庆尚北道和江原道的修理工来说，驾照是必需的。可之前由于不识字，我一直不敢申请参加笔试。”

　　他说：“2000年推出口试之后，我才能够申请。”

　　徐先生尽可能多次参加驾驶考试，先后共花了100多万韩元（1000美元）的申请费。

　　每次考试他都比上次进步一点，直到最后，也就是本周初他终于通过了考试。考试中心的官员们和徐先生一样开心。

　　考试中心的一名官员告诉记者说：“他来这儿学习已经5年多了，我们几乎把他当作家庭的一员了。”

　　徐先生说他已在荣州市的一所驾驶学校学习，为路考做准备。

　　“我很有信心，我已经和妻子讨论该买什么车了。”他告诉记者。