Cheonan-Asan Station SRT Transfer 2026: Hodu-gwaja & Tips

My original plan for a trip to Busan involved a KTX train, but due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I had to make a last-minute switch to an SRT ticket.

As I scrambled to find available seats, I ended up with a ticket that required a transfer at Cheonan-Asan Station: Suseo → Cheonan-Asan → Busan.

The transfer time? A mere 15 minutes! It's the kind of tight window that makes you nervous about potential delays. But, in true adventurous spirit, I decided to embark on a slightly reckless mission:

🤍 Buy Cheonan's famous Hodu-gwaja (walnut cookies) to share with friends 🤍

Spoiler alert: I successfully bought the Hodu-gwaja and made my connecting train, even after a slight platform mishap!

At a Glance

No need for a lengthy summary, here's the quick rundown!

Cheonan Myeongga Black Rice Hodu-gwaja

Honestly, it tastes like a classic, delicious walnut cookie.

My first SRT train arrived right on time at 12:47 PM!!! (Take notes, Deutsche Bahn!) This gave me exactly 15 minutes before my next train to Busan. Realistically, after accounting for boarding time, I had about 13 minutes. It was a true "hurry-hurry modern life" moment!

Initially, I wasn't specifically looking for the black rice version of Hodu-gwaja. I had a different Hodu-gwaja shop in mind from a previous business trip and planned to head there.

However, as I started walking, I realized my intended shop was further away, closer to the subway connection, making it too far for a 15-minute transfer. I quickly gave up on that plan before even reaching the subway entrance.

Turning my attention elsewhere, I spotted:

✨Cheonan Myeongga Black Rice Hodu-gwaja✨

You can find Cheonan Myeongga Hodu-gwaja immediately to the left of the yellow "Skinbed" phone case store, as shown in the third photo.

Inside the shop, you could even watch them making the Hodu-gwaja! The clean equipment was very impressive.

As of my visit in August 2026, here are the prices!

They offer various sizes, from a small pack of 10 pieces up to larger gift boxes, perfect for snacking on the train or as souvenirs.

I happily bought some to share with my friends when I met them in Busan!

Making a 15-Minute Transfer

*Cue dramatic movie music*

With my Hodu-gwaja secured, the only task left was to catch my Busan-bound SRT. That's when my "oops" moment happened!

When checking my SRT ticket on the screen, the already-used Suseo → Cheonan-Asan ticket was still displayed. Without scrolling down properly, I instinctively headed back to Platform 1, where my first train had arrived. However, as I started walking up, I noticed the signs indicated trains heading back towards Seoul, which seemed suspicious.

About a third of the way up, I paused, double-checked my ticket, and realized my Busan-bound train was departing from Platform 4. I quickly turned around and headed back down!

Thankfully, based on my movements, Platforms 1 & 2 and Platforms 3 & 4 weren't too far apart! It was a walkable distance, easily reached within 2 minutes.

Despite giving up on my original Hodu-gwaja shop, buying from Cheonan Myeongga, AND accidentally going to the wrong platform first, I still made it:

💚 Arrived at Platform 4 approximately 2 minutes before departure 💚

I walked to my car's location and safely boarded the train.

So, is a 15-minute SRT transfer at Cheonan-Asan Station possible? In my case, yes, it absolutely was!

Keep in mind that my first train arrived without any delays, and my experience is based on the specific platforms and route I took. It's not necessarily "plenty of time," but rather, the transfer was sufficient, and I even had time to visit a nearby shop.

After all that, I arrived in Busan as planned and met up with my friend, H, from Busan. We immediately headed to the famous dumpling restaurant, Sinbalwon, to pick up some takeout!

I might share more of these "cutting it close" travel stories sometimes. I still have a soft spot for running a "professional latecomer" blog... (like "Tips for when you're running late," "I was 20 minutes late once," "5-minute penalty for being late," I'd love to gather stories like that! It's a perfect excuse to pretend to be late just to get content!)

That's all for now! ☺️