Seoul - A 68-year-old South Korean hawker has set a new record by failing her driving test 771 times, a news report said Thursday.

Mrs Cha has been trying her luck with the test questions almost every day since April 13, 2005, the Korea Times reported, quoting local authorities at Wanju district in the south-west of the country.

However, the woman failed every time at the test's theory questions, only achieving between 30 to 50 points of the 60 necessary to pass the test, the paper quoted official Park Jung Seok as saying.

But instead of being discouraged, Cha usually signs up for the next test.

"I feel sorry every time I see Cha fail. When she passes, I'll make a memorial tablet myself and give it to her," Park said.

The failed driving tests cost Cha up to 4 million won (3,000 dollars) in exam fees.

Cha is lugging a handcart from door to door selling goods. At some point, she thought a car would be better to do the work and signed up for the driving test, the report said. (dpa)