The Australian General Service Medal for Korea (or AGSMK) recognizes former defense force personnel who completed 30 days of service in operations in South Korea during the post-Armistice period, 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956, including any location 161 km (100 mi) seaward from the coast of South Korea.
The medal was established by letters patent by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 November 2009 and further determination approved by the Governor General on 12 March 2010. The AGSMK was announced on 12 February 2010 by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, following the recommendations of the 2005 Post-Armistice Korean Service Review.
The Australian General Service Medal for Korea Design
The medal is circular, struck in nickel-silver, and measures 38 mm in diameter. The design is ensigned with the Federation Star and has an antique silver finish with a raised polished outer edge.
The obverse has a central design of a relief map of South Korea superimposed over polar projection lines representing the United Nations and surrounded by the words “Australian General Service Medal Korea”. Centered on the reverse are the words “Post Armistice Service 1953–1956″ surrounded by Australian gum leaves and blossoms with two Federation Stars included in the bottom left and right-hand quadrants.
The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a central yellow stripe 8mm wide, flanked by 6mm stripes of blue, which in turn are flanked by 6mm stripes white. The ribbon colors are representative of the colors used for the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. The ribbon bar consists of a strip of a full-sized ribbon with no emblem.
