United Nations Korea Medal

The UN Korea Medal is a 36mm wide circular medal of bronze alloy. 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, and the inscription may be in any one of the following languages: • Amharic, awarded to personnel from the Ethiopian Empire, 5,650 medals issued • Dutch, 5,800 medals issued • English, awarded to personnel from Australia, Canada (english-speaking), Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, United Kingdom, Union of South Africa and United States of America, 2,760,000 medals issued • French, awarded to personnel from Belgium, Canada (french-speaking), France and Luxembourg, 16,900 medals awarded • Greek, 9,000 medals issued • Italian, 135 medals issued • Korean, 1,225,000 medals issued • Spanish, awarded to personnel from Colombia, 1.300 medals issued • Thai, 10,650 medals issued • Turkish, 33,700 medals issued • An unknown number of an unofficial copy with inscriptions in Tagalog were produced in the Philippines for local veterans. 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 medal's ribbon made up of 17 equal stripes of United Nations blue (Bluebird 67117) and white, 9 blue and 8 white, each 5/64 in wide, with the exception of the Turkish medals that were usually worn with a dark red, single colour ribbon, as the standard pale blue and white were too similar to the Flag of Greece, considered as a rival country.

On November 22, 1961, the United Nations officially changed the name of the United Nations Service Medal to the United Nations Service Medal Korea. This was as a prelude to the creation of many subsequent United Nations medals which are awarded for various operations around the world. The United States and some other countries continue to refer to the medal as the United Nations Service Medal in an effort to maintain consistency with past military files referring to the medal by its original name.