THE KOREA MEDAL

Obverse: The laureated bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right surrounded by the legend "ELIZABETH II DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REGINA F:D:+".

Reverse: Hercules, armed with a dagger, with his left arm out horizontally holding the tail of Hydra, which he is also holding off with his left leg. At the bottom is the word "KOREA".

Size: 36mm in diameter.

Ribbon: 32mm wide, yellow with two blue stripes.

Suspension: By a plain, straight, non-swivelling suspender bar.

The qualifications for the award, composed of cupro-nickel and issued for service between 2nd July, 1950, and 10th June, 1953, were:

NAVY
Twenty eight or more days afloat in the operational areas of the Yellow Sea or the Sea of Japan, or one or more days of shore duty.

ARMY
Service of at least one day on the strength of a unit serving in Korea.

AIR FORCE
(1) One or more operational sorties over Korea or Korean waters.
(2) Service for one or more days on land.
(3) Service of twenty eight or more days afloat in the areas mentioned for the Navy.

GENERAL
Operational service that was terminated by death, wounds or a disability due to service, capture, or the cessation of hostilities also qualified the recipient for the Korea Medal.
Many members of civilian organisations were eligible for the medal.
Authority was given for the wearing of a bronze oak leaf emblem on the ribbon by the recipients of a Mentioned in Dispatches.

Regulations For This Award: View Regulations (PDF document)

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