On Feb. 28, 1967, the Merit Medals were reorganized and redesigned under Decorations Law Enforcement Decree #2929. Unlike the previous series, all seven Merit Medals have entirely different designs from each other, and all traces of enameling have been removed. The ribbons are 35 × 45 mm in size. The stripe dimensions are 4, 1, 10, 5, 10, 1, 4 mm. Each medal has a 35 × 10 mm ribbon bar and a 17 mm lapel pin. The Merit Medals, pictured on this webpage, were taken from the book “Decorations of the Republic of Korea” (대한민국훈장), printed by the Ministry of Government Administration on Dec. 30, 1968. There is a great deal of confusion regarding the ribbon colors of this series. Turns out that most of the documents existing on the internet, do not accurately reflect the original legislation. The colors on the original legislation were written in Chinese Characters, and in a few cases the translations into Korean are wrong. The colors specified on this page are from the original legislation as recorded in the Official Gazette (관보 Kwanbo).
On Dec. 19, 1969, a year after these pictures were published, the Korean Government issued a new Presidential Decree. Regarding the Merit Medals, everything in Decorations Law Enforcement Decree #4466 remains the same as the 1967 legislation, except for the lapel pins. Where the earlier legislation had 17 mm round lapel pins, the new legislation has 12 × 8 mm rectangular lapel pins.
The following Merit Medals are laid out by precedence.
- The National Foundation Merit Medal 건국포장 was reaffirmed. The ribbon is described as light blue 담청색 (淡靑色) with navy-blue 군청색 stripes.
- A Civil Merit Medal 국민포장 was created to replace both the Cultural Merit Medal 문화포장 and the Public Welfare Merit Medal 공익포장. The ribbon is described as purple 보라색 with blue 청색 stripes.
- A Military Merit Medal 무공포장 was created. This medal, along with the newly created National Security Merit Medal 보국포장, replaced the Defense Merit Medal 방위포장. It is awarded in times of armed conflict or national emergency. The ribbon is described as pale yellow 담황색 with cinnabar/red 주색 stripes.
- A Service Merit Medal 근정포장 was established and replaced the Diligence Merit Medal 면려포장. The ribbon is described as blue 청색 with yellow 황색 stripes.
- A National Security Merit Medal 보국포장 was established. As stated above, this medal, along with the newly created Military Merit Medal 무공포장, replaced the Defense Merit Medal 방위포장. It was a non-combat military award. The ribbon is described as orange 등색 (橙色) with red 적색 (赤色) stripes.
- A Diplomatic Service Merit Medal 수교포장 was created. The ribbon is described as pink 담홍색 with dark brown 진갈색 stripes.
- The Industrial Service Merit Medal 산업포장, also known as the Business Merit Medal, was reaffirmed but now incorporated the previous Labor (Service) Merit Medal 근로포장. The ribbon is described as pale green 담록색 with yellow 황색 stripes.
