Artifact Gallery Items

Description Commemorative Korean War service medal awarded by the Korean Government on the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, with a letter of appreciation for service. The medal is in a navy blue formed plastic box enclosed in an A4 size paper manila envelope. On the front of the envelope is printed (in Korean and in English): CHONG WA DAE SEOUL, KOREA Note that Chong Wa Dae translates to "The Blue House", and is a complex of multiple buildings in a public park in Seoul that served until 2022 as the Korean presidential residence and diplomatic reception halls. The envelope is sealed with a gold foil seal. On the lid of the box is imprinted (in Korean and in English) in gold type: 6-25 KOREAN WAR SERVICE MEDAL Awarded on the 50th Anniversary of the KOREAN WAR The medal is struck from bronze. It includes, at top center, a map of the Korean peninsula on a grid, and bottom center, two crossed rifle bullets. On each side are olive branches. Around the outside is a narrow border of stars. The colors for the ribbon accompanying the Korean Service Medal are blue, white, red, white, yellow. The set includes a lapel ribbon pin, of the same colors as the larger ribbon but with a red and blue yin-yang circle in the center. The letter of appreciation is in a separate A4 size envelope with a gold foil seal. On the front of the envelope is printed (in Korean and in English): CHONG WA DAE SEOUL, KOREA The letter, four pages in a folio format, is printed on plasticized white cardstock. On the first page is imprinted (in Korean and in English) in gold: A design with two seated phoenix facing each other, and a hibiscus flower (national flower of Korea) between them. LETTER OF APPRECIATION THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA The second page, which bears the flags of the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, Great Britain, Australia ,New Zealand and Luxembourg, is printed entirely in Korean. The third page, which bears the flags of the remaining United Nations allied countries in the Korean War, is printed entirely in English. The letter is addressed "Dear Veteran", and is signed by President of the Republic of Korea Kim Dae-Jung. On the back (fourth) page is printed on red, white and blue 50 6-25-50 THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR