Order of Military Merit (South Korea)

The Order of Military Merit (Hangul: 무공훈장, Hanja: 武功勳章) is the primary military decoration awarded by the South Korean government.

Classes of the Order

The order is awarded in one of five classes, as follows.

1st Class – Taegeuk Cordon

 1st class: 太極, Taegeuk^[1] (Taegeuk Cordon or Grand Cordon) – Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit is the highest decoration for military bravery and valour awarded by the government of South Korea. Members of the armed forces of South Korea, as well of its allies, are eligible for the award.

Document of award of the Taegeuk Cordon to the Unknown Dead of Greece for the Greek participation in the Korean War

Notable recipients

• Chappy Hakim – Air Chief Marshal, Indonesian Air Force
• Young-Oak Kim – Colonel, United States Army
• Homer Litzenberg – General, United States Marine Corps
• William Westmoreland – General, United States Army
• Frank Fort Everest – General, United States Air Force
• Horace Robertson – Lieutenant General, Australian Army
• HN KIM United States Navy
• Sgt William Speakman VC. JP. British Army Korean War Veteran

2nd Class – Eulji Cordon

Col. Edwin A. Doss' Eulji Medal with Silver Star (1952-63 design)

 2nd class: 乙支, Eulji^[2] (Field Marshal Lord Eulji Cordon)

Notable recipients

• Pham Van Dong – General, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam
• Chesty Puller – Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps
• William P. Yarborough – Lieutenant General, United States Army

3rd Class – Chungmu Cordon

 3rd class: 忠武, Chungmu (Lord High Admiral Chungmu Cordon)

Notable recipients

• Han Moo-hyup – Major General, Republic of Korea Army
• Alfredo M. Santos – General, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – Admiral, United States Navy
• Phan Hoa Hiep – General, Armed Forces Republic of Vietnam

4th Class – Hwarang Cordon

 4th class: 花郞, Hwarang (Youth Military Corps Cordon)

Notable recipients

• Major Steven Vorhees Boylan (later Col. US Army retired) For direct support of the 10th Korean "Meng Ho" Division in the central coast region of Viet Nam in 1966.

5th Class – Inheon Cordon

 5th class: 仁憲, Inheon^[3] (Field Marshal Lord Inheon Cordon)

Notable recipients

• Yoon Jang-ho – (Ha-sa) Staff Sergeant, Republic of Korea Armed Forces

Footnotes

1. 'Taegeuk' is also transliterated as 'Taeguk'
2. 'Eulji' is also transliterated as 'Ulchi'
3. 'Inheon' is also transliterated as 'Inhun'

External links

• MOPAS Order of Military Merit page (Ministry of Public Administration and Security)
• Historical changes to the Eulji/Ulchi medal design
• Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit