Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea

More than 26 000 men and women volunteered to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces in the Far East in the early 1950s. These veterans have been entitled to wear the Canadian Korea Medal and/or the United Nations Service Medal for Korea since the end of the conflict in 1953. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea was subsequently created on July 12, 1991.

Eligibility

The Medal is awarded to former members of the Canadian Armed Forces  who volunteered and served in Korea and the adjacent areas, including Japan, Okinawa and Korean waters, during all or part of the period from June 27, 1950, to July 27, 1954.

Potential recipients must have either:

  • Served for at least one day with an army unit or formation in Korea;
  • Served for at least 28 days aboard a ship or craft engaged in operations;
  • Flown one sortie over Korea or Korean waters in the Yellow Sea or Sea of Japan; or
  • Accumulated at least 28 days of service in the qualifying area.

The Medal may be awarded posthumously.

Description of the medal

A circular medal of copper and zinc alloy:

  • On the obverse of which appears the crowned effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, circumscribed with the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA , and incorporating the word CANADA at the bottom; and
  • On the reverse of which is centred the inscription KOREA VOLUNTEER . 1950-1954 . VOLONTAIRE CORÉE within a laurel wreath, with a maple leaf centred at the bottom;

The Medal is worn suspended from a yellow ribbon that is 32 mm in width, bordered on each exterior edge with a United Nations blue stripe 7 mm in width, with a central red stripe 6 mm in width on which is centred a 2-mm-wide white stripe.