The Order of Service Merit

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Institution: 16 May 1961
• Country: South Korea

The Order of Service Merit (근정훈장 in Korean) is one of South Korea’s orders of merit.

The Order is awarded by the President of South Korea to public officials, private school teachers, and special post office employees for “outstanding meritorious services by applying himself/herself to his/her duties.”

The Order of Service Merit is divided into five grades:

• 1st Blue Stripes (청조)
• 2nd Yellow Stripes (황조)
• 3rd Red Stripes (홍조)
• 4th Green Stripes (녹조)
• 5th Aquamarine Stripes (옥조)

The Order of Military Merit Design

All classes of the Order, established in 1961, had the same ribbon color and stripe pattern (yellow with two navy blue stripes). To distinguish them, there were different attachments added to the bar, with no attachment for the 7th class. These could be auspicious clouds and/or bamboo leaves struck in different materials.

In 1962, all pendants were made smaller and the ribbon colors were changed. There were further changes in 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, and 1984. Since then, the Order has had five classes.