Established on July 24, 1956, the Merchant Marine Korean Service Medal honors Merchant Marine mariners who carried out service onboard merchant ships running American colors in Korean waters between the dates of June 30, 1950 and September 30, 1953.
The Merchant Marine consists of civilian mariners who operate privately and federally owned vessels; in wartime, these vessels may be called to provide transportation or other support for military troops or supplies.
The ribbon features a Korean gate and a yin yang shape over the words “KOREAN SERVICE,” and a chain encircles the image. The ribbon is bisected by a vertical blue stripe flanked on either side by a white stripe and a red stripe proceeding outward; it also features white edging.