1973 Series Merit Medals

On Jan. 25, 1973, three new Merit Medals were promulgated under Decorations Law #2447.  Precedence for this series was finalized in November 1973 by the Decorations Law Enforcement Decree #6916.  The 1973 series is a complete design change from the 1971 series.   All the merit medals now closely mimic the Orders.  The addition of the three new Merit Medals also forced changes to the award criteria.  All eleven Merit Medals have rosettes on their drapes.  The drapes are 100 mm high x 38 mm wide.  The 12 × 8 mm lapel pins are identical to the 38 × 10 mm ribbon bars, but without the rosettes.  (In 1984, the government did not change the designs for this series, but it did change the sizes and weights.)

• The National Foundation Merit Medal 건국포장 (建國褒章) is awarded to those who have been committed to and contributed to the foundation and solidification of the Republic of Korea. The ribbon is (scarlet) red 적색 with a yellow 황색 center stripe.  The pendant is 50 mm wide and 45g in weight.
• The Civil Merit Medal 국민포장 (國民褒章) is awarded to those who have contributed to the development of politics, economy, society, education and academics or those who have made a tremendous donation to, or managed public facilities or those who have been engaged in public projects which markedly contributed to the improvement of national welfare. The ribbon is yellow 황색 with a green 녹색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 12.7g in weight.
• The Military Merit Medal 무공포장 (武功褒章) is awarded to those who have been committed to and contributed to the national defense. The ribbon is red 적색 with a white 백색 center stripe.  The pendant is 40 mm wide and 24g in weight.
• The Service Merit Medal 근정포장 (勤政褒章) is awarded to public servants and members of the government, owned and/or invested corporations, public organizations and the social bodies who have markedly contributed to the interest and welfare of the nation.  The ribbon is orange 주황색 with a red 적색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 24g in weight.
• The Reserve Forces Merit Medal 예비군포장 (豫備軍褒章) is awarded to those who have contributed to the promotion and development of the reserve forces and the members of the reserve forces who have been committed to their duties. The ribbon is purple 자색 with a white 백색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 21.5g in weight.
• The National Security Merit Medal 보국포장 (保國褒章) is awarded to those who have markedly contributed to the national security and social security and order, or those who have risked their lives to rescue the lives or property of others.  The ribbon is purple 자색 with a white 백색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 21.5g in weight.
• The Diplomatic Service Merit Medal 수교포장 (修交褒章) is awarded to those who have markedly contributed to the expansion of the national sovereignty or to the friendship with allies or to the heightened dignity of the country.  The ribbon is pink 담색 with a brown 등색 center stripe. The pendant is 44 mm wide and 45g in weight.
• The Industrial Service Merit Medal 산업포장 (産業褒章) is awarded to those who have contributed to the development and advancement of industry or those who have been committed to their fields of industry or the workers who have contributed to the national development by their commitment to their work.  The ribbon is sky blue (azure) 하늘색 with a yellow 황색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 26.7g in weight.
• The Saemaeul Service Merit Medal 새마을포장 is awarded to those who have markedly contributed to the advancement of their local communities and people’s welfare by realizing the spirit of Saemaeul through the Saemaeul campaign.  The ribbon is light green 연두 with a red 적색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 26.7g in weight.
• The Culture Merit Medal 문화포장 (文化褒章) is awarded to those who have contributed to the development of culture through their cultural and art activities, or those who have dignified the nation through their cultural and art activities. The ribbon is white 백색 with a red 적색 center stripe. The pendant is 40 mm wide and 24.0g in weight.
• The Sports Merit Medal 체육포장 (體育褒章)¹ is awarded to those who have markedly contributed to the development of national sports through their sports activities or those who have dignified the nation through their sports activities.  The ribbon is orange 담황색 with a green 연두색 center stripe.  The pendant is 40 mm wide and 24g in weight.

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1. Also written as 휴육포장 (休育褒章) in some ROK publications.