The Current Series of the Merit Medals

The Merit Medals are listed by their precedence as established on March 10, 2020, under the Decorations Law Enforcement Decree, Presidential Decree #30517. Their general appearance is identical to the 1984/2001 Series Merit Medals, but there are some minor differences. Most of these differences are found in the words used for the colors. The colors are the same, it’s just the words used to describe the colors have changed. All the Merit Medals have a 38 × 10 mm ribbon bar with a 17.5 × 3 × 17.5 mm stripe pattern. All the Merit Medals have a 12 × 8 mm Lapel pin with a 4.5 × 1 × 4.5 mm stripe pattern. The lapel pins are 12 mm wide, but the legislation does not say why the total width of the stripes on the lapel pin (4.5 × 1 × 4.5 mm), does not add up to 12 mm. However, a brief look at a lapel pin reveals that the lapel pins have two silver colored edges, which are not mentioned in the legislation.

• National Foundation Merit Medal 건국포장 (建國褒章). The ribbon is (scarlet) red 붉은색 with a white 흰색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 52g in weight.
• Civil Merit Medal 국민포장 (國民褒章). The ribbon is yellow 노란색 with a green 녹색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 32g in weight.
• Military Merit Medal 무공포장 (武功褒章). The ribbon is red 붉은색 with a white 흰색 center stripe. There is no rosette on the drape. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 35.5g in weight. There is a helmet on both the ribbon bar and on the lapel pin.
• Service Merit Medal 근정포장 (勤政褒章). The ribbon is orange 주황색 with a red 붉은색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 34.5g in weight.
• National Security Merit Medal 보국포장 (保國褒章). The ribbon color is yellow 노란색 with a white 흰색 center stripe. There is no rosette on the drape. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 33.5g in weight. There is a taeguk symbol on both the ribbon bar and on the lapel pin.
• Reserve Forces Merit Medal 예비군포장 (豫備軍褒章). The ribbon is purple 자주색 with a white 흰색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 33.5g in weight.
• Diplomatic Service Merit Medal 수교포장 (修交褒章). The ribbon is pink 엷은 붉은색 with a dark brown 진한 갈색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 44.5g in weight.
• Industrial Service Merit Medal 산업포장 (産業褒章). The ribbon is sky blue (azure) 하늘색 with a yellow 노란색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 40.5g in weight.
• Saemaeul Service Merit Medal 새마을포장. The ribbon is light green 연두색 with a dark red 짙은붉은색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 33.5g in weight.
• Culture Merit Medal 문화포장 (文化褒章). The ribbon is white 흰색 with a dark red 짙은붉은색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 34g in weight.
• Sport Merit Medal 체육포장 (體育褒章). The ribbon is orange 주황색 with a green 연두색 center stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide at 32.5g in weight.
• Science and Technology Merit Medal 과학기술포장 (科學技術褒章). The ribbon is blue-purple 푸른 보라색 with a white 흰색 stripe and a rosette. The pendant is described as 50 mm wide and weighing 55g.