1. Strategic Location: Incheon is strategically located on the western coast of Korea, near Seoul, the capital city. By capturing Incheon, UN forces could quickly advance towards Seoul and cut off the supply lines of North Korean troops in the south. This would have a significant impact on the overall outcome of the war.
2. Surprise Factor: Inchon was not heavily fortified by the North Koreans, making it a surprise landing site. MacArthur knew that if he landed at a well-defended port like Busan (which was the initial plan), it would have been much harder to establish a foothold. Incheon, on the other hand, was relatively unguarded, allowing the UN forces to gain an element of surprise.
3. Tidal Conditions: The timing of the landing at Incheon was carefully planned based on the tidal conditions. The port has some of the highest tides in the world, which allowed MacArthur to land his troops and supplies during the high tide, and then quickly moved inland as the tide receded, taking advantage of the exposed灘塗 (mud flats). This allowed the UN forces to land troops and equipment quickly and efficiently.
4. Amphibious Experience: MacArthur had extensive experience in amphibious landings, having successfully launched such operations during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He was aware of the risks and complexities involved in such landings and had a proven track record of success, which gave him confidence in the operation's feasibility.
5. Political Considerations: In addition to the military factors, MacArthur also considered political considerations. A successful landing at Inchon would have a major psychological impact on both the North Koreans and the South Koreans, bolstering the morale of the South Korean forces and potentially weakening the resolve of the North Korean leadership.
By choosing Incheon as the landing site, MacArthur aimed to achieve a swift victory, cutting off the North Korean supply lines, capturing Seoul, and potentially ending the war quickly and decisively in favor of the United Nations forces.