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The United Nations Korea Medal

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Time Period: Post-WW2
Year of Institution: 1950
Country: Great Britain, Australia

The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (or UNKM) is a military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950. The decoration was the first international award ever created by the United Nations and recognized the multi-national defense forces which participated in the Korean War.

The medal is awarded to any military service member, of an Armed Force allied with South Korea, who participated in the defense of South Korea from North Korea between the dates of June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954. International Red Cross personnel engaged for service during the war with any United Nations relief team in Korea were not eligible for the medal.

National variants were produced but the British and Commonwealth type was granted to all personnel who had served at least one full day in Korea or in support units in Japan. Those who served after the armistice of 1953 were also entitled the UN medal.

On November 22, 1961, the United Nations officially changed the name of the United Nations Service Medal to the United Nations Service Medal Korea. Most countries consider the United Nations Service Medal an automatic decoration, if some other Korean service award was bestowed, and generally award the medal without requesting permission through United Nations channels.

The United Nations Korea Medal Design

The medal is struck in bronze alloy and measures 35 mm in diameter.

The obverse depicts the ‘World-in-a Wreath‘ emblem of the United Nations. The reverse has the inscription: “FOR SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS”. Each participating country has the text in the most appropriate language.

The medal hangs from a claw attachment on a straight bar suspension. Each medal is worn with a medal bar bearing the inscription KOREA in the same language as the reverse inscription.

The ribbon is made up of 17 equal stripes of United Nations Blue (Bluebird 67117) and white, 9 blue, and 8 white, each ⁵⁄₆₄ inch (2.0 mm) wide.

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