The Order of Merit for National Foundation

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Institution: 7 April 1949
• Country: South Korea

The Order of Merit for National Foundation (건국훈장 in Korean) was established on Apr. 27, 1949 and is one of South Korea’s orders of merit. The Order is awarded by the President of South Korea for “outstanding meritorious services in the interest of founding or laying a foundation for the Republic of Korea.”

The Order was originally established under a slightly different name, 건국공로훈장 (建國功勞勳章) and is the oldest Order of the Republic of Korea. On Jan. 16, 1967, there were major changes made to the Order under Presidential Decree #2929. The name was shortened from 건국공로훈장 (建國功勞勳章) to 건국훈장 (建國勳章), and all three classes got new names and designs.

The Order of Merit for National Foundation Design

The Order of Merit for National Foundation is awarded in five grades:

• 1st Republic of Korea Medal (대한민국장)
• 2nd Presidential Medal (대통령장)
• 3rd Independence Medal (독립장)
• 4th Patriotic Medal (애국장)
• 5th National Medal (애족장)