Weekend Thrills

The engine roars, tires squeal sharply, and thick smoke curls around Hoseop Noh’s dark gray Genesis Coupe as it slides smoothly through a tight corner. Inside the cockpit, Hoseop grips the wheel firmly yet comfortably, calmly correcting the car's path with subtle, precise adjustments. For Hoseop, drifting is more than a hobby, it's a personal journey.

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“I always wanted to try drifting, but I didn’t really have the chance,” says Hoseop, recalling his inspiration. "Then one day, I watched an anime called Initial D. It just looked so fun, like something I needed to try at least once."

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Hoseop, a 43-year-old computer program developer, spends weekdays behind a computer screen, but weekends see him navigating tracks at high speeds. Drifting is a motorsport in which drivers intentionally oversteer, causing cars to slide sideways through corners. It's not the fastest way around a track, but as enthusiasts at Driftworks explain, it’s about “pure driving enjoyment and fun.”

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“Drifting is when the car moves sideways,” Hoseop explains. “So, at high speed, the car starts to slide, and it’s not something you experience in normal driving. The feeling of the car slipping and moving in that way…it’s a thrill. That’s what makes drifting so addictive.”

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His passion isn't without challenges. Hoseop vividly remembers a costly incident: “There was a time when I damaged my car while drifting. That definitely stuck with me. I had to get it hauled using a carrier or a flatbed. It’s expensive, so it really stings when it happens.”

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Yet despite these setbacks, Hoseop insists that the rush of adrenaline and the camaraderie within the drifting community more than compensate for the costs. “I used to be really quiet, not talkative,” he admits. “But at drift meets, everyone’s friendly. We all have the same passion, so conversations come naturally. I’ve made a lot of friends that way.”

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According to Driftworks, drifting competitions judge drivers on style rather than speed. Participants strive to achieve the perfect balance of speed, angle, and precision through each turn. Hoseop embraces this philosophy fully.

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“At the Yeongam Circuit, there’s a section where you enter a turn while drifting at around 160 km/h. That’s not a speed you’d normally try to drift at,” Hoseop says.

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He describes the sensory details vividly, the dense tire smoke enveloping the car, the deep, powerful roar of the engine, and the sharp yet enticing smell of burnt rubber. “When the tires are smoking? That’s a good sign. That means you’re really drifting.”

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The driving experience is not just heard, but felt. The tires shriek in protest, the car lunges sideways with grace, and every steering correction feels deliberate and controlled, almost like choreography. Inside, the driver’s hands move in sync, one tugging the handbrake, the other steering with confidence, as the orange Genesis Coupe whips through the asphalt curves.

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In South Korea, motorsports like drifting are often misunderstood or viewed negatively as reckless. Yet, enthusiasts like Hoseop demonstrate the discipline and community spirit inherent in the sport.

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Beyond thrills, drifting has shaped Hoseop’s character profoundly. Once shy and reserved, he's become sociable and disciplined, a change he credits to the sport.

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“It’s not just a hobby, it’s a part of my life now,” he says with a smile. And in that smoky, tire-scorched world of drifting, Hoseop did not just find excitement. He found confidence, connection and a whole new version of himself.