Order of Military Merit (Korea)

The Order of Military Merit (Hangul: 무공훈장, Hanja: 武功勳章) is the primary military decoration awarded by the government of Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Classes of the Order
The order is awarded in one of five classes, as follows.

1st Class – Taegeuk Cordon
1st class: 太極, Taegeuk (Taegeuk Cordon or Grand Cordon) – Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit is the highest decoration for military bravery and valour awarded by the government of South Korea. Members of the armed forces of South Korea, as well of its allies, are eligible for the award.

Notable recipients

 * Chappy Hakim – Air Chief Marshall, Indonesian Air Force
 * Young-Oak Kim – Colonel, United States Army
 * Homer Litzenberg – General, United States Marine Corps
 * William Westmoreland – General, United States Army
 * Frank Fort Everest – General, United States Air Force
 * Horace Robertson – Lieutenant General, Australian Army
 * HN KIM United States Navy

2nd Class – Eulji Cordon
2nd class: 乙支, Eulji (Field Marshal Lord Eulji Cordon)

Notable recipients

 * Pham Van Dong – General, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam
 * Chesty Puller – Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps
 * William P. Yarborough – Lieutenant General, United States Army

3rd Class – Chungmu Cordon
3rd class: 忠武, Chungmu (Lord High Admiral Chungmu Cordon)

Notable recipients

 * Han Moo-hyup – Major General, Republic of Korea Army
 * Alfredo M. Santos – General, Armed Forces of the Philippines
 * Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – Admiral, United States Navy

4th Class – Hwarang Cordon
4th class: 花郞, Hwarang (Youth Military Corps Cordon)

Notable recipients

 * Major Steven Vorhees Boylan (later Col. US Army retired) For direct support of the 10th Korean "Meng Ho" Division in the central coast region of Viet Nam in 1966.

5th Class – Inheon Cordon
5th class: 仁憲, Inheon (Field Marshal Lord Inheon Cordon)

Notable recipients

 * Yoon Jang-ho – (Ha-sa) Staff Sergeant, Republic of Korea Armed Forces