The Korean War and Order of Military Merit
Learn about the history of the Korean War Order of Military Merit and how it changed over the times
Taegeuk Order of Military Merit - big badge (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
The order of military merit was given to those who took part in battles during war or other emergencies, displaying distinguished services.
Commander-in-Chief Douglas MacArthur and other commanding officers during Operation Chromite, September 15, 1950War Memorial of Korea
The history of the order of military merits in Korea begins with General Douglas MacArthur. General MacArthur successfully oversaw the Incheon Landing Operation, which is the most famous operation of the Korean War, to turn the tides of the war and create the foothold to recapture Seoul and advance northward.
General MacArthur receiving ROK President Rhee, Syngman at Haneda Airport, February 16th 1950 (1950-02-16)Original Source: National Institute of Korean History
To commemorate this, the Seoul Recapture Ceremony was held on September 29, 1950, the day after the operation. President Rhee Syng-man praised the achievements of General MacArthur and bestowed the Order of Merit for National Foundation and the First Grade Order of Military Merit (currently Taegeuk Order of Military Merit) to the general.
Soldiers marching with the Taegeukgi(donated by Kim Mi-seong) (1950-10-10)War Memorial of Korea
On October 18, 1950, the Act on Order of Military Merits was enacted and the national order of military merit system was established. The purpose of this was to motivate Korean soldiers after overcoming the initial losses and turning the tides of war. The grades of the orders of military merits enacted at this time were 1 to 4.
ROK President Rhee, Syngman decorating Army's 3rd Army Corps ceremony in 1954War Memorial of Korea
The Act on Order of Military Merits was revised on August 19, 1951, and the names of the orders were changed to Taegeuk, Eulji, Chungmu, and Hwarang. In 1963, the Awards and Decorations Act was enacted, which added the Inheon Order of Military Merit to the four existing orders.
Medal award ceremony to the Tiger Brigade, UN 8240th AU, April 3th 1953War Memorial of Korea
Out of the 769,353 veterans identified in the Korean War, a total of 179,391 orders of military merit were awarded. Among them, 109,005 (60.8%) were awarded during the war and the remaining 70,386 (39.2%) were additionally bestowed immediately after signing the ceasefire agreement until the end of 1954.
Since the enactment of the Act on Order of Military Merits in 1950, there have been many changes in its rules and specifications. The meanings of each medal also changed. The initial medals in 1950 were divided into four grades. The medals issued during this period can only be found in illustrations through official gazettes.
The War Memorial has medals that originate from 1951 on. We will introduce two of the main orders of military merit for veterans recognized for their achievements during the Korean War.
Taegeuk Order of Military Merit with a Silver Star - small badge (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
Silver Star Taegeuk Order of Military Merit from August 1951
The order you are seeing here was received by General Kang Moon-bong for his achievements during the Korean War as the 3rd Army Corps Commander.
A star is attached on top of the strings. The purpose of this star is for further detailing each order, and they are divided into a gold star, silver star, and museong (no star).
The medal is pinned on the chest and it is presumed that the background color is a light-blue color. There are four white stripes drawn from left to right.
On the center is a taegeuk pattern. Four red arms surround the taegeuk pattern.
Taegeuk Order of Military Merit with a Silver Star - small badge (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
On the back is engraved the name of the order and its issue number.
Eulji Order of Military Merit - small badge (awarded to Lieutenant Hyun Chang-geon)War Memorial of Korea
Museong Eulji Order of Military Merit from August 1951
Another order issued after August 1951.
This order was bestowed to First Lieutenant Hyun Chang-geon for his distinguished service during the Korean War as a pilot for the 10th Fighter Wing.
A sword is engraved in the center, and four red arms are surrounding it.
Eulji Order of Military Merit - small badge (awarded to Lieutenant Hyun Chang-geon)War Memorial of Korea
This is a pin-type medal and the strings are presumed to have been a light brown or orange color. There are three white stripes drawn from left to right. There is no star, so it can be deemed to be a Museong Order.
The names of the order of military merits according to Presidential Decree 522 in August of 1951 were changed to Taegeuk, Eulji, Chungmu, and Hwarang. Though they were not prescribed by law, different colored strings distinguished their grades. The colors were light blue, brown, blue, and yellow. But because it was during wartime, it was difficult to procure the right materials continuously. That's why there are cases in which the color of the strings was not completely the same even for the same orders issued at the time.
Medals of other grades issued after August 1951
Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, star (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
Enactment of the Awards and Decoration Act No. 1519 in 1963
In 1963, the Korean government enacted the Awards and Decoration Act as law no. 1519 Accordingly, the patterns and colors were changed depending on the grade, and with the addition of the Inheon Order, it was changed from a system of four grades to five.
The system of adding gold and silver stars was abolished, and all five orders placed Taegeuk patterns in the center.
The order you are seeing here is the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit bujang that General Kang Moon-bong received for his achievements in the Korean War. Four red arms are surrounding the taegeuk pattern in the center.
Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, star (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
Bujang is a medal without strings and it is worn on the chest. There is a pin so that it can be worn on the chest.
Eulji Order of Military Merit - medium badge (awarded to General Kang Mun-bong)War Memorial of Korea
Enactment of the Enforcement Ordinance of the Awards and Dec
In November of 1973, the Korean government enacted the Enforcement Ordinance of the Awards and Decoration Act as law no. 6916. With this, the four red arms around the center disappeared and all orders were made up of dynamic straight rays for the surface. The Inheon Order has 96 rays and the remaining orders have 180.
The strings from this time on were red with white stripes on them.
The photo here is the Eulji Order of Military Merit that General Kang Moon-bong received for his services in the Korean War. 1973 was quite a long time after signing the ceasefire agreement. There are two main causes for medals related to the Korean War being issued even today.
The first is when an order is applied for through the medal reissue program. The reissue program allows the awardee or his or her family or representative to receive a new medal in the event of loss or damage.
The second instance is when the medal is received late. It has been reported that 56,000 people were subject to receiving the medals, but did not receive the actual decoration due to urgent combat situations, loss of family registers, missing personal information of surviving facilities, and other insufficient documentation. Accordingly, the Ministry of Defense has been engaged in a national campaign for Finding Korean War Order of Military Merit since 2019.
The War Memorial of Korea has various orders of military merit related to the Korean War. It will be fun estimating the production and reception year based on the shape, color, and patterns while taking a look at the exhibits and collections.
* All rights to materials used in this story are reserved by the War Memorial of Korea.
Planning/Editing: Kang Jung-min
Host: Jung Seo-hee
Reference:
koreanmedals.com
Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 'Changes of the Rules for Medals in the Republic of Korea', 2003.
Na Jong-nam, 'A Study on the Standards for Selecting Ware Heroes of the US and Korea during the Korean War: Focusing on the Comparison of the Medal of Honor and Taegeuk Order of Military Merit', 'Participation of the UN Forces in the Korean War and Memories', Korean Association for Political and Diplomatic History, Korean War Association, 33-50, 2018.
The War Memorial of Korea is a comprehensive museum on war and military history that collects, preserves, manages, and services various materials related to the history of the war in the Korean Peninsula. The War Memorial of Korea's Open Archive is offered to share historical resources with citizens. Check out more archive materials of the War Memorial at the Open Archive.
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