Seoul is required primarily due to the way the SK road network is setup. An argument could be made for pushing to the west of Seoul, crossing the Han, and tryin

Seoul is required primarily due to the way the SK road network is setup. An argument could be made for pushing to the west of Seoul, crossing the Han, and trying to end around through Inchon, but that would almost certainly be a one way trip. The eastern side of Korea has lots of issues for an attacking army to overcome, especially an army which would be depending so heavily on a quick operational breakthrough.