Updated: 24 November, 2008

Korea (Republic of)

• Medals of the Republic of Korea Don Pfeifer is currently writing a book on the Award System of the Republic of Korea. To date, he has identified over 400 variations of Korean Orders and Medals. If you have any questions, need help in identifying a medal, or would just like to discuss Korean Medals, please contact Don at   dfifer@earthlink.net

• Republic of Korea Orders - Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) Information is in Korean, but names are provided in English.

• Republic of Korea Medals - Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) Information is in Korean, but names are provided in English.

• Medals of Korea - In Korean, but there is enough English to get a fair understanding. Don Pfeifer

• Order of Diplomatic Service Merit - The Government of the Republic of Korea adopted the diplomatic decoration system in 1961.

• Korean Orders - Japanese Orders & Medals Website

• Pogoda Industrial Medals Awarded  (Ref: Maritime Press(Korea) - The following has been provided by Don Pfeifer: The Order of  Industrial Service Merit was established on 9-29-62 in three classes by Cabinet Decree #986.  It was created in conjunction with Park Chung Hee's 1st Five Year Economic Plan (1962-66).  It is awarded to those who distinguish themselves with outstanding meritorious service in the development of industry. The three classes were Gold Tower, Silver Tower and Bronze Tower.  The word tower can be translated as pagoda, but it would be incorrect in light of what was intended for the name to symbolize. On Jan. 16, 1967, the Order was changed to five classes under law #1885.  It was confirmed by Presidential Decree #2929 on Feb. 28th, 1967.  The classes are  Gold Tower, Silver Tower, Bronze Tower, Iron Tower and Tin Tower.

• Seoul Mayor Goh Awarded 2001 Global Integrity Medal  Mar 01

• Republic of Korea War Service Medal  - The US Government has approved the acceptance of the Republic of Korea War Service Medal after 48 years by all United States service members who fought there during the Korean War. The medal will not be issued, so veterans will have to purchase the medal. Update on the Republic of Korea War Service Medal There are actually two different types of the Korean War Service Medal.  Many collectors are familiar with the "Crossed Bullets" medal. There is an earlier, Korean War Service Medal, authorized by ROK Presidential Decree #390 on Oct. 24, 1950.  This earlier medal is enameled, and I am assuming that the Korean Government decided to produce a less expensive medal, consequently the crossed bullets medal.  I have both types of this medal in my collection, and a copy of the original Presidential Decree.  The official Korean name for the Korean War Service Medal is  "6.25 Incident Participation Medal".  The 6.25 refers to June 25th, 1950, the day the North Koreans started the War. (Ref: email Don Pfeifer)   Korean War Service Medal 450,000 Medals made for US Veterans Jul 00

• Medals of the Korean War Mike Nielsen

• Wharang Distinguished Service Medal This medal was awarded to many US Soldiers during the Korean War and was in fact the highest Korean bravery award. Image courtesy of Joe Poggi who was awarded this medal when he was a member of the famed Audie Murphy 3rd Infantry Division from July 1951 to August 1952. His other awards are Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean War Medal 3/stars, UN Service Medal, Wharang Distinguished Service Medal, Bravery Gold Medal of Greece, and Combat Infantrymen's badge. He was recently awarded the Soldier's Medal and Bronze Star Medal with V device for his Korean War Service.

• Geum-Gwan Medal Awarded - Korea’s Highest Order of Merit for Culture. Other Cultural Awarded Mentioned as well.

• Mkapa decorates Korean singer - South Korean pop singer, Cho Yong Pil presented with Tanzania's top Sports and arts medal. Sep 01

• Reprimanded General to Be Awarded US Medal - Retired Major-general Han Chul-yong, former commander of the 5679 Intelligence Unit, who was reprimanded for accusing the Ministry of National Defense of ignoring warning reports prior to the June 29 West Sea clash, is to be awarded the US "Legion of Merit." A ministry source said that it had opposed the award as Han had been reprimanded over the incident, but the USFK had replied this was not related to that and a presentation ceremony would be held soon. Nov 02

• Korean American Cultural Foundation 50th Anniversary Korean War Medal Dec 02

• Partisan Honor Medal Awarded to Korean and American personnel who served with the 8086th and 8240th Army Units

• Translator Awarded Legion of Honor  Choi Jung-wha, a professor at the Hanguk University of Foreign Studies Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation, became the first South Korean woman to receive the Legion of Honor (Légion d’Honneur), France's premier order. Choi has translated during eight summit talks between South Korea and France and has also worked as a professional translator in about 1,800 international conferences. However, it was not just her fluent English and French that won her the medal. DigialChosun 25 Sep 03

   

• Order of Distinguished Diplomatic Service 1st Class Star  Awarded by the Korean Government to those individuals, Korean or foreign, who distinguish themselves in the promotion of friendship with other nations. Comes in 5 classes. The ribbon is white edged with wide stripe of green on each edge and red stripe toward each edge. This is an example of the first design Star, before 1974. Imange courtesy of Emmanuel Halleux

   

• SangHa Vice Chairwoman Awarded Red Cross Medal SangHa vice chairwoman Kim In-soon, center, is awarded Medal of Red Cross for 26 years of dedicated public services at an event celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, in Seoul. One year before its centennial anniversary, 6,915 were awarded Red Cross Medals. times.hankookj.com 31 Oct 04

   
• [EDITORIAL]An unclaimed medal Yeo Un-hyeong, an independence activist also known as a center-left political leader, was assassinated in 1947 in the social and political confusion following liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Amidst the continuing controversy over a national medal posthumously awarded to him, we wonder how the eloquent patriot himself would react if he were still living. Not a word of thanks came from his daughter Yeo Won-gu, now holding an esteemed public position in North Korea. She declined to receive the Presidential Medal of the Order of National Foundation Merit, which carries a 1.2 million won monthly allowance, complaining that the South Korean government is not correctly assessing the services of her father, according to a Pyongyang radio report. She demanded that the Seoul authorities first uncover the conspiracy of Americans in the assassination and kick them out of the country. Considering the special circumstances in the communist North, the reaction from Ms. Yeo, chairperson of the central committee of the "National Unification Democratic Front," can be viewed as the official response from the North Korean government. One reason for the rejection must be that accepting the South Korean government medal would mean the recognition of the Seoul government, still considered an illegitimate regime despite all the exchanges and contacts with it these past years. Or Pyongyang may not be satisfied with the level of the decoration, which is second class, below the Republic of Korea Medal. In fact, Yeo's relatives in the South also complained that he was being unfairly assessed because of his leftist inclination and requested that he be given equal treatment as Kim Gu and Kim Gyu-sik. At the same time, the conservative society in South Korea protests that a number of leftists, including Yeo, were given government recognition for their independence activities despite their negative role against establishment of a liberal democratic government here. The second-class medal for Yeo was thus seen as a compromise. Putting aside the class issue, the posthumous decoration of Yeo was a significant step in the present administration's reevaluation of modern history to embrace all patriotic elements from different ideological hues while uncovering anti-national activities hidden behind official tolerance by early undemocratic rule. Though belated, Yeo's efforts to bridge the rightist and leftist movements following the liberation have been officially recognized in the South. We regret that Pyongyang failed to appreciate the Seoul government's sincerity. koreaherald.co.kr 9 Mar 05

• [Editorial] Revoke Medals for Those Involved at Gwangju It is the 25th anniversary of the Gwangju Struggle. It has also already been many years since the struggle has been given its proper place as part of the democracy movement and those involved have had their honor restored. There is still much to be done, however. One thing that needs to be resolved is the perverted situation in which those who were responsible for the bloody armed suppression of the struggle have yet to have the medals they received for their work canceled and revoked. Needless to say none among them have returned their medals voluntarily. hani.co.kr 18 May 05

• South Korea Defence Medal of Honour

• Disgraced Presidents Could Lose Their Medals The government could strip former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo of their medals when a new law on national awards goes into effect. An official with the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said Tuesday that when the amended law goes into effect on Nov. 5, the government would have to decide whether to strip the two disgraced former leaders of their decorations. Chun Doo-hwan was given the Order of Military Merit Taegeuk in 1980 as head of Defense Security Command, while Roh Tae-woo was awarded the Order of Military Merit Ulchi in the same year as head of Army Headquarters Security Command. english.chosun.com 7 Sep 05

• Ex-Presidents' Medals May Be Stripped The government is considering stripping former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo of their military honors following the revision of the law governing state decorations. The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said that it has asked the Ministry of Government Legislation and a fact-finding committee of the Defense Ministry to evaluate the legality of awarding military medals to former presidents and 79 others for their roles in military coup in December 1979 and the Kwangju civilian massacre in May 1980. It took this action because the revised law, which went into effect on Saturday, gives the ministry authority to take away awards from individuals if their achievements turn out to be exaggerated or if they are later held responsible for crimes that result in prison terms of more than three years. Two former presidents and 12 others were found to be guilty in 1997 for their roles in the 1979 military coup, while 69 other military officers received guilty verdicts for suppressing the democratic movement in the southwestern city of Kwangju. The National Assembly passed a revision of government decorations last June that gives the ministry the exclusive right to strip individuals of state honors without having to consult with other government offices. But a ministry official said that it will wait for the results of the Defense Ministry’s investigation before making a final decision on whether to take away awards from former presidents and military officers. times.hankooki.com 6 Nov 05

• U.S. veteran to receive S. Korea's highest medal A veteran of two wars, retired U.S. Army Col. Young Oak Kim has received more than a dozen medals. But he doesn't display them like a proud warrior. They're all stowed in a box somewhere in his garage. During World War II, Kim played a key role in helping the Allies capture Rome and liberate several French towns. In the Korean War, he led a combat unit that pushed enemy forces back from the 38th parallel, creating a strategic wrinkle in the line that divides North and South Korea. Kim will soon add one more medal to his box. South Korean President Roh Moon-hyun recently approved giving him the Taeguk Order of Military Merit, the highest military honor in South Korea. The move marks a rare exception to a decades-old policy against awarding any more medals involving the Korean War. Political observers see the move as an effort by the South Korean government to maintain friendly relations with the United States during a wave of anti-Americanism in that country and amid tense negotiations over North Korea's rogue nuclear program. montereyherald.com 23 Oct 05

• South Koreans award medal to stricken Army colonel South Korean has presented U.S. Army Col. Bryan D. Keifer with a medal from the Korean military for Keifer’s service on the peninsula. Earlier this year, Keifer suffered neurological damage after an angioplasty procedure. Standing from left are Chung’s wife Kim Hong-won; Keifer’s children Christie and Zach; and Keifer’s wife Parrie. Maj. Gen. Chung Joong-suk presented Keifer with the Korean Order of National Security Merit Samil Medal. The medal usually is presented to general-grade U.S. officers upon completion of their time in South Korea. estripes.com 20 Nov 05

• Korean Govt awards medal to Pakistani ambassador The Korean Government has conferred Ghanghwa medal to Syed Pervez Hussain, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for promoting friendly relations in various fields of common interest between the republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His valuable dedication and service have earned him the appreciation and admiration of the Korean people. onlinenews.com.pk 21 Dec 05

• Decision on Ex-Presidents’ Medals Next Month The government will decide by next month whether to strip disgraced former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo of decorations they were awarded for their role in Chun’s Dec. 12, 1979 putsch. Government Information Agency chief Kim Chang-ho said a policy meeting agreed the list of those to be stripped of decorations will be finalized in a Cabinet meeting next month. The move follows a legal revision that empowers the home affairs minister to propose withdrawing medals without consulting the agencies at whose recommendation they were awarded. Earlier, Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan urged ministers to be fair in deciding who deserves to be stripped of their medals given their role in the coup, adding no exception should be made for the two former leaders. english.chosun.com 21 Dec 05

• Korean Gets Medal for War on Terror A Korean lieutenant colonel on active duty will be awarded a medal from the U.S. in recognition of his contributions to the U.S.’s “war on terror.” According to the army on January 8, In Seong-hwan, the commander of the training battalion for newly-enrolled soldiers of the 27th Infantry Division, will be decorated with the U.S. Meritorious Service Medal at the U.S. Embassy in Korea on January 20. In, who has served as a strategy-planning officer under the U.S. Central Command in Florida for a year since December 2003, made an appraisal report on strategic environment within the area during that period. The army explained that his report contributed significantly to operations of Central Command and its prosecution of the war on terror. english.donga.com 9 Jan 06

• S. Korea honors outgoing U.S. commander South Korea’s President Roh Moo-hyun awarded a medal to the departing commander of U.S. forces in Korea to honor his three and a half years of servic. Gen. Leon J. LaPorte was decorated with the Tong-Il Medal, the highest of the five medals under the Order of National Security Merit. aiforcetimes.com 31 Jan 06

• 'Old Boy' Returns Medal in Screen Quota Protest Actor Choi Min-sik has returned a government decoration in protest against Seoul’s decision to halve the number of days reserved in theaters for Korean movies. Staging a one-man protest, the actor said the decision was “tantamount to a death sentence for Korean film." He said the medal, once a symbol of pride, was now “nothing more than a sign of disgrace, and it is with a heavy heart that I must return it." Choi was awarded the Og-Gwan Order of Cultural Merit in honor of his role in the movie, which won Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 2004. A ministry official said there was no stipulation providing for the return of an order of cultural merit. “We will keep it and give it back to him later,” he added. english.chosun.com 7 Feb 06

• Ex-Presidents Stripped of Medals The government stripped former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo of their military honors and other state decorations awarded to them during the 1960s-80s. The two former military strongmen had central roles in orchestrating a coupd’etat in 1979 that put Chun in power and held responsible for the bloody suppression of a pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Kwangju in 1980. The former presidents were the most notable among the 176 people _ including politicians, military officers and businessmen _ who had their medals taken away following the revision of the law governing state decorations. The new law allows the government to take away all state decorations from individuals who committed crimes that threatened national security or resulted in a prison term of more than three years. It also nullifies all military honors that had been given to those involved in the suppression of the 1980 Kwangju uprising. However, Chun and Roh will be able to retain their Mugunghwa Medals, Korea’s highest order of civil merit, which are traditionally given to Korean heads of state. ``We will inform the individuals who had their state-honors canceled and start recollecting the medals. They will also be banned from wearing decorations they received from other countries,’’ said Kim Kuk-hyun, an official at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs. ``The ministry will continue to look into the records of people who received state honors in the past and check whether any of them had committed a crime grave enough for the government to cancel their honors,’’ he said. The notable figures who had their medals taken away include Lee Keun-an, a former police official who was notorious for his torture of political prisoners, and the late Kim Jae-gyu, the former spy agency head who assassinated then President Park Chung-hee in 1979. The previous law allowed the government to cancel state decorations only on the request of the state agency that recommended the individual for the honors. Most recently, the government took away military honors from two retired generals in 1999 for their involvement in the suppression of the Kwangju uprising, following a request from the Defense Ministry. Before Tuesday’s announcement, the government had canceled state decorations on 10 people since 1960, when the current resident registration system was introduced, the Home Affairs Ministry said. The military officials, including Chun and Roh, who had their state decorations canceled will likely be deprived of their rights to be buried at the National Cemetery. They also will not be able to receive the monthly paycheck of 100,000 won given to people with state decorations and lose their healthcare benefits. Chun, then as a major general, led a military coup on Dec. 12, 1979, just two months after the death of former President Park, and later named himself as head of state. Roh, a long-time confident of Chun, succeeded the presidency after winning the 1987 election. Both men had received state decorations for their suppression of the uprising, which left more than 200 people dead and several thousands wounded. times.hankooki.com 21 Mar 06

• Gov't Honors Late Kim Dongwon, 'Korean Hamlet' The Ministry of Culture and Tourism conferred ``Geum-Guan’’ Order of Cultural Merit upon the late veteran actor Kim Dong-won to honor his contribution to the performing arts. Kim, known as ``Korea’s Hamlet,’’ died at the age of 88, suffering from a cerebral disease. The late actor played Hamlet for the first time in Korean theatrical history and also showed up in movies including ``Enemy of Women (Yosongui Chok)’’ (1956). He was active in the local theatrical scene as head of the play, movie and dance departments at the National Academy of Arts. Due to his contribution, Kim was given several awards such as ``Pogwan’’ Order of Cultural Merit in 1990. times.hankooki.com 15 May 06

• South Korea honours Ban Ki-moon The newly elected United Nations Secretary General was awarded the medal of honour from the South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, a day before leaving Seoul for New York. Ban Ki-moon received the Order of Service Merits, which is given to ministers who carried out their duties successfully. Ban Ki-moon, who was chosen as the eighth chief of the UN, stepped down as South Korea's foreign minister on November 10th finishing his 37-year political career in his mother country. ndtv.com 14 Nov 06

• 3 Koreans Receive Czech Medal Czech Ambassador to South Korea Tomas Smetanka awarded a Czech government medal to three Koreans for their contributions to Seoul- Prague relations. The Silver Medals of the Czech Foreign Ministry were given to Kang Wha-ja, president of Beseto Opera; Kim Kyung-ock, a translator of Czech literature; and Shin Hyun-hun, CEO of Vertigo Publishers. Opera, book translation and publishing have been selected this year as areas of cultural interaction between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea that deserve special appreciation, Smetanka said. Kang worked with the Prague State Opera on joint productions of Carmen and The Magic Flute that featured Korean and Czech soloists. The shows were performed in Seoul and Prague. Kim's translation of Closely Watched Trains, a novel by Bohumil Hrabal, has been recently published by Vertigo Publishers. At the end of every year, the ambassador presents the annual awards to acknowledge activities that promote the Czech Republic and its culture in Korea. Last year, actors Kim Juhyeok, Jeon Do-youn, Yoon Se-ah and other principal makers of the popular TV drama Lovers in Prague received the medals. times.hankooki.com 10 Dec 06

• Spanish award ceremony: Spanish Ambassador to Seoul Delfin Colome, left, pins The Cross of Civil Merit on Professor Kwon Eun-hee of Duksung Women's University in Seoul, at the Cervantes Cultural Center at the Interburgo Hotel, Taegu, on Dec. 1 for her contribution to Seoul-Madrid relations. times.hankooki.com10 Dec 06

• Seoul to award medal to chief US military officer The outgoing chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Gen Peter Pace will receive South Korea's highest medal given to those who contribute to national security, defense officials said. He is recognized for his role in fostering the alliance between the two nations. He will also visit the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, to receive the Tongil (unification) Medal of National Security Merit in recognition for his distinguished service in strengthening the alliance. english.yonhapnews.co.kr 16 Aug 07
• French honor Pusan director Kim Kim Dong-ho, director of the Pusan International Film Festival, has been named Officier in France's Order of Arts and Literature. Kim had previously been awarded the Chevalier title by the French government; the promotion to Officier reflects meritorious service toward the arts over an extended period of time. This is the fourth honor Kim has received from the French government, following the City of Paris Medal and the Deauville City Medal. hollywoodreporter.com 5 Oct 07
• French heavy medal The French government named PIFF co-festival director Kim Dong-ho as an Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. But it became clear that France and Korea have much in common in terms of support for their cultural industries: More than 240 French movies have played in Pusan in the festival’s 12 years. variety.com 7 Oct 07
• Korean man awarded friendship medal in Vietnam Vietnam’s Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan granted the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Medal to Korean Lee Joong Keun. Lee, who is president of the Korean Booyong company, has actively contributed to moving education forward in Vietnam. His work includes initiating a high-quality education system in the nation’s rural areas and last year his company donated US$10 million to install high-quality blackboards in several primary schools. Lee’s company also carried out numerous charity activities and supported such social programs as the Vietnam Taekwondo Association. thanhneinnews.com 19 Oct 07
• Medal of Merit Awarded to Media Secretary President Roh Moo-hyun has decided to award a medal of merit to presidential media secretary Yang Jeong-chul, praising the "creativity and diligence" he showed in his official duties. The decision, which also included the awarding of medals and accolades to 206 other public servants, was passed at a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Roh. Yang is a celebrity among public servants -- much more famous than most government ministers. That's not because of his rank, but his power. Vice ministers who have more experience and rank above Yang, are often chided by him. Yang's power comes from President Roh. Many Koreans remember Yang for his accomplishments resulting from his "creativity and diligence" and the confidence the president has placed in him. In August of 2004, Yang made an unprecedented telephone call to the Samsung Group and demanded the conglomerate share the cost of a ceremony announcing the launch of digital broadcasts. President Roh would be attending the ceremony. When this fact was reported by the press, Yang initially denied the reports but eventually confessed. In the eyes of the presidential office, turning directly to a major business conglomerate for a handout must be considered "creative." Yang's "diligence" has led to a long list of famous incidents. When the vice minister of culture and tourism rejected pressure from the presidential office to instate a vice president at Arirang TV in August of 2006, Yang had verbally threatened the vice minister through one of the ministry staff. When President Roh was preparing to announce a Constitutional amendment in January of this year, Yang called a high-ranking official at a broadcast station and demanded the announcement be aired live. A few days ago Yang made a personal visit to the Ministry of National Defense and criticized the vice defense minister for being too slow in closing down the ministry's pressroom. The Cheong Wa Dae Briefing, a pseudo-news Internet website serving as an unbridled mouthpiece of the government, has become Yang's personal notebook where he posts his erroneous ideas at whim. The presidential office has lauded Yang's stubborn insistence on pursuing such unjust policies, viewing those acts as "diligence." In January of 2006, the Roh administration degraded the value of the country's medals of merit by awarding them to 30 officials at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Construction and Transportation and the National Tax Service for devising measures to counter rising real estate prices. Those government officials were recognized for their efforts in stabilizing real estate prices. Soon after, their measures were proved failures after the prices of apartments in Seoul surged between tens of millions and hundreds of millions of won. Just two months after those medals were given, the government had to hastily come out with new measures. In awarding Yang the medal, perhaps what the president really wanted was to tell the public that he and Yang plan to do whatever they want, no matter what anyone says. english.choseun.com 19 Dec 07

• LG Chem CEO Wins `Gold Tower’ Medal LG Chem President and CEO Kim Bahn-suk will receive a "Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merits’’ from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy for contributing to the domestic chemical industry this year, according to the company.Kim, 58, was recognized for having tried to make chemicals a main export industry, focusing on nano-technology and other future technologies and fortifying the competitiveness of the country’s components and materials industry.

• Gen. Casey Awarded the Bokuk Medal Gen. George William Casey Jr., the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, was awarded the Bokuk Medal by Gen. Park, Heung-ryul, the Republic of Korea Chief of Staff at the R.O.K. Ministry of Defense. Bokuk means "defending the country". army.mil 17 Dec 07 Photo of Gen. Casey being Awarded the Bokuk Medal

• Former Presidential Aides to Be Honored With Medals Former Presidential Advisor of Information, Science and Technology Park Ki-yeong will be awarded the Order of Service Merit Yellow Stripes. He co-authored the fabricated article on embryonic stem cell research with Hwang Woo-seok, the disgraced Seoul National University professor, and also caused troubles while the scandal was unfolding. Former Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Lee Byeong-wan, who now leads the Participatory Government Appraisal Forum, a pro-Roh Moo-hyun organization, will be given the Order of Service Merit Blue Stripes, and former Presidential Advisor for the Economy Jeong Moon-soo, who left his post after taking responsibility for the failure of Roh’s real estate polices, will be honored by receiving the Order of Service Merit Yellow Stripes. Though the government cited their contributions to the “development of the nation and society by participating in running state affairs,” some have raised voices against the government move by saying that the awards amount to rewarding aides to the president with medals at the end of the presidential term. Yang Jeong-cheol, the presidential secretary on public relations, also received the Order of Service Merit Red Stripes a week or so ago for formulating and spearheading the press support scheme, which has widely been criticized for placing a gag on Korea’s press. At a cabinet meeting presided over by President Roh yesterday, it was decided to offer medals to four previous Cheong Wa Dae advisors and 43 former ministers and vice ministers. The Order of Service Merit is the top award for public officials. The Blue Stripes is awarded to officials at the minister level, while the Yellow Stripes is for those at the vice-minister level, and the Red Stripes is for other high-ranking officials (from level one to three). Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said at a regular briefing held on the same day, “It is customary to award medals to public officials above level three, including ministers and vice-ministers, and those who were in charge of running state affairs for more than one year. Until the previous administration, the mandatory working period was six months, but that has been extended to one year in the present administration.” But some officials, such as Byeong Yang-gyun, the disgraced former presidential aide for national policy, were excluded from awards for their involvement in corruption scandals and for triggering social problems, Cheon said. In January 2006, when the Hwang Woo-seok scandal first surfaced, then presidential advisor Park Ki-yeong didn’t report to the president, even though he had been told by Hwang that some of the stem cells had been contaminated. When suspicions that a female researcher could have donated her eggs for the research arouse, he reported to the president that the allegation was not true. He was also suspected to have channeled research funding to Hwang in return for listing his name on the article as a co-author. However, President Roh appointed him last December as a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee. When asked whether Park was eligible for the honor, Cheon said, “The prosecutorial investigation found no problem with him, and the government broadly recognized his contribution.” Former Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Lee Byeong-wan has led the pro-Roh group as the president’s special advisor after stepping down from his post in March Former presidential economic advisor Jeong Moon-soo was in charge of drawing up real estate policies, including the “3•30 Measure,” but when housing prices began soaring and the housing market was thrown into disorder, he tendered his resignation. He was also implicated in speculation allegations because he bought some 680 pyeong of farmland in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do in his wife’s name. english.donga.com 27 Feb 07
• Ex-Congressman Finally Gets Korean Medal “I wanted to contribute to resolving the (North Korean) nuclear issue.” So said former congressman Lane Evans, 56, to a Korean who visited his nursing home in Rock Island County, Illinois, about 260 km west of Chicago. He was having a hard time speaking with sweat covering his face. Despite his struggle, the countenance of “the friend of Koreans” shone with gladness to see a Korean visitor after his retirement. Parkinson’s disease forced him out of public service at the end of 2006. Evans is a hero who has tirelessly fought to provide justice for “comfort women,” or those forced by the Japanese military to provide sex to soldiers during World War II. He sought to pass a resolution on comfort women in the U.S. Congress. For this, he received a high honor from the Korean government. Seoul awarded him the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Gwanghwa Medal for his promotion of human rights for racial and ethnic minorities, including Korean Americans. It took more than 13 months, however, for Evans to receive medal. He has continued his rough and lonely fight against Parkinson’s in a sanitarium, where a caregiver visits him in the afternoon. His brother had acted as his legal representative, and barred him from having outside contact for fear of worsening his condition. english.donga.com 17 Jan 08
• Pacific briefs: S. Korean naval officer is awarded US medal A South Korean naval officer was awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal during a ceremony in Seoul, according to a U.S. Navy press release. Rear Adm. Thomas Rowden, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea, presented the award to Cmdr. Jeon Jae-hyo for work Jeon did as a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from December 2004 to December 2006, according to the release. stripes.com 16 Mar 08

• Army General Kim Awarded US Medal Lt. Gen. Kim Jin-hoon, former commanding general of South Korean Army's special forces, was conferred the Legion of Merit, a top U.S. military decoration, by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. B. B. Bell Saturday, according to the Army. The U.S. military honored Kim's contributions to enhancing the alliance between South Korea and the United States when he served as the special forces commander between November 2005 and October 2007, the service said. koreatimes.co.kr 9 Mar 08

• Dr. Kim Chong-In Receives High German Award On behalf of German President Horst Koehler German Ambassador to Seoul Norbert Baas awarded the South Korean economist "Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany"for his contribution to enhancing German-Korean relations. Dr. Kim is a longstanding member and the chairman of the Korean-German Parliamentary Friendship Association. Dr. Kim contributed in a substantial way to promoting and fostering the bilateral relationship, particularly in the political and parliamentarian field. Dr. Kim received a PhD degree in economics at the renowned University of Muenster in Germany. The Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit, officially Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. This Federal Order of Merit has existed since September 7, 1951. Between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year in all classes. Most of the German federal states (Länder) have their own orders of merit, with up to three ranks (member, officer, commander). This excludes the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Hamburg, which reject any orders; by old tradition its citizens will refuse any decoration in form of an order. theseoultimes.com 3 Oct 08

• “Bae Yong Joon to receive cuture medal” Hallyu star Bae Yong-jun has been announced as the recipient of the ceremonial Culture Medal. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had recommended Bae for the Culture Medal due to his part in bringing Korean popular culture to the world through the TV drama, “Winter Sonata.” The Culture Medal is a government award given to figures who have made a cultural impact through various fields. Lee Young-ae won a Culture Medal in 2007 for her influence on the Hallyu phenomenon with the drama “Daejanggeum.” gebens2001.wordpress.com 22 Oct 08

• Bangladesh Army Chief Gets Medal Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed, received the ``Order of National Security Merit'' from President Lee Myung-bak for his contribution to promoting defense cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. The medal was given in recognition of his efforts to promote cooperation with the South Korean Army's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. He served as the UN peacekeeping officer in Rwanda 1994-95, and now oversees the entire UN peacekeeping operations that Bangladesh carries out throughout the world. Bangladesh now maintains nearly 10,000 officers on 13 missions including in Libya, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo and Afghanistan. Moeen said the size of the UN peacekeeping operation indicates the commitment of Bangladesh to peace and stability around the world. Korea maintains around 400 peacekeeping officers on six missions including Lebanon. Moeen is also president of the Bangladesh Olympic Association, and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Olympic Committee for strengthening cooperation in sports. koreatimes.co.kr 2 Nov 08