Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Awards and Decorations Act and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 2(Meritorious Service Review Committee) #
(1) To review the following matters, a Meritorious Service Review Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Review Committee") shall be established under a person authorized to recommend decorations under Article 5 (1) and (2) of the Awards and Decorations Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") and the Seoul Special Metropolitan City Mayor under Article 4 (7) of the Act on Special Cases concerning the Administration of Seoul Special Metropolitan City (hereinafter referred to as "decoration recommending authority"): <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
1. The merits of a person to be recommended for a decoration and the appropriateness of such recommendation;
2. Whether a person awarded a decoration falls under any grounds for revocation thereof.
(2) The Review Committee shall consist of at least 6 but not more than 11 members, including 1 chairperson, and the members shall be appointed or commissioned by the decoration recommending authority, in consideration of gender equality, from among the following persons; in such cases, the decoration recommending authority shall appoint at least 1/2 of the members from among persons who are not public officials under the National Public Officials Act or the Local Public Officials Act (hereinafter referred to as “public officials”); and the proportion of non-public official members may be determined otherwise, if the Minister of the Interior and Safety deems it necessary for national security, the protection of official secrets, or any other relevant purposes: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Public officials belonging to the Senior Executive Service or public officials of Grade III or higher;
2. A person who has served as a judge, prosecutor, or attorney-at-law for at least 10 years;
3. A person who has served as an assistant professor or higher at a college or university for at least 10 years;
4. A person who has expertise in the duties under the jurisdiction of the decoration recommending authority or has at least 10 years of experience working in the relevant field.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), none of the following persons shall be qualified as a member: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
1. A person who is not a national of the Republic of Korea;
2. A person who falls under the categories specified in any of the subparagraphs of Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act;
3. A person whose decoration has been revoked under Article 8 of the Act.
(4) The decoration recommending authority may dismiss or decommission a member in any of the following cases: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
1. Where the member becomes unable to perform their duties due to a mental or physical disability;
2. Where the member commits any misconduct in connection with their duties;
3. Where the member is deemed unfit to serve due to negligence in duties, conduct prejudicial to dignity, or any other similar reason;
4. Where the member fails to recuse themselves despite falling under the categories specified in any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (5);
5. Where the member declares that it is impracticable to continue performing their duties.
(5) A member shall be excluded from a review by the Review Committee in any of the following cases: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
1. Where the member is the subject of review in the relevant case;
2. Where the member is or was a relative (referring to a relative under Article 777 of the Civil Act) of a person who is the subject of review in the relevant case;
3. Where the member is involved in the facts constituting the grounds for revocation of the merit or decoration subject to review in the relevant case; provided, this shall not apply where a public official is involved in such facts in the course of performing their duties.
(6) If any ground for exclusion specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (5) applies to a member or if the member deems that it would be impracticable to expect an impartial review due to their circumstances, the member shall recuse themselves from the review of the relevant case. <Added on Dec. 31, 2015>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
[Title Amended on Dec. 31, 2015]
Article 3(Recommendation of decorations) #
(1) When intending to recommend a decoration, the decoration recommending authority shall have a prior consultation with the Minister of the Interior and Safety regarding the necessity, scale, and timing of the decoration. <Amended on Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) When recommending a decoration, the decoration recommending authority shall submit a merit review report in Form 1 (including a merit review report in electronic form) to the Minister of the Interior and Safety after undergoing a review by the Review Committee, no later than 30 days before the scheduled date of the decoration; provided, if a person to be decorated is a foreigner, an English version of the merit review report in the same form shall also be attached. <Amended on Jul. 26, 2017>
(3) When the decoration recommending authority recommends a decoration for a public official who is not under their jurisdiction under Article 5 of the Act, the authority shall obtain the consent of the head of the agency to which such public official belongs; provided, if a person to be recommended for a decoration is a foreign military personnel or any other foreign national, the authority shall have a prior consultation with the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, respectively.
(4) The decoration recommending authority may, if necessary for the review of the merits of a person to be decorated, request the provision of the person’s criminal record and other necessary information from the head of an institution holding the relevant information, with the consent of the person, as prescribed by relevant statutes and regulations.
[This Article Added on Dec. 31, 2015]
Article 4 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 5 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 6 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 7 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 8 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 9 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 10(Revocation of decorations) #
(1) When revoking a decoration under Article 8 of the Act, the relevant facts shall be verified through trial records of the case or other materials substantiating the grounds for revocation. <Amended on Mar. 10, 2020>
(2) When the Minister of the Interior and Safety intends to submit an agenda for the revocation of a decoration to the State Council under the proviso of Article 8 (3) of the Act without a request from the decoration recommending authority, the Minister shall notify the decoration recommending authority of such intention and submit the agenda to the Review Committee for review; provided, the review by the Review Committee may be omitted in the case of Article 8 (1) 3 of the Act. <Added on Mar. 10, 2020>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 11(Types and class-specific names of orders of merit and medals of honor) #
The types and class-specific names of orders of merit and medals of honor shall be as specified in Appendix 1.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 12(Class-specific criteria for awarding ceremonial orders of merit) #
(1) The class-specific criteria for Orders of Diplomatic Service Merit to be worn for ceremonial decoration under Article 16 (3) of the Act shall be as follows:
1. Ambassador level or higher: First Class;
2. Minister level: Second Class;
3. Counselor level: Third Class;
4. First and Second Secretary level: Fourth Class;
5. Third Secretary level: Fifth Class.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to government representatives, special envoys, and other accompanying personnel according to their respective positions.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 13(Specifications and standards) #
(1) The designs and specifications of orders of merit and medals of honor under Article 27 (7) and (8) of the Act shall be as specified in Appendix 2. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if deemed especially necessary, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may use other materials. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 14(Reduction of orders of merit and medals of honor) #
(1) Orders of merit and medals of honor may be reduced to 1/2 of their original size, if necessary; provided, no badge of First Class or Second Class Orders of Merit (including Third Class Orders of Merit for National Foundation) worn with a grand cordon or neck order shall be reduced.
(2) Article 25 (3) shall apply to the reduction of Third Class Orders of Merit (excluding Third Class Orders of Merit for National Foundation).
(3) In cases of a reduction of a ribbon, it shall be reduced to 1/2 of its original size.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 15 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 16 #
Deleted. <Jan. 28, 2000>
Article 17(Awarding of orders of merit or medals of honor and supplementary prizes) #
(1) A recipient of an order of merit or medal of honor shall be awarded a certificate of the order or medal in Forms 2 and 2-2 through 2-37, along with the order or medal; provided, other forms may be used if deemed necessary.
(2) If a person other than the awarding authority intends to award a recipient of an order of merit or medal of honor with a supplementary prize bearing the national emblem (referring to the emblem symbolizing the Republic of Korea) or the Presidential insignia, along with the order or medal, the person shall have a prior consultation with the Minister of the Interior and Safety. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 17-2(Prohibition of reawarding of orders of merit or medals of honor of the same type and class) #
No person who has received an order of merit or medal of honor shall be awarded the same or a lower class of the same type of order, or the same type of medal, except in any of the following cases:
1. Where the person has rendered a distinguished military service in combat (including counter-espionage operations);
2. Where the person has rendered distinguished service to national security through counter-espionage investigations.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 18(Conferment of orders of merit and medals of honor by proxy) #
The conferment of orders of merit and medals of honor by proxy under Article 29 of the Act shall be conducted by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Prime Minister, the Chairperson of the National Election Commission, the head of a central administrative agency, the head of an agency under the direct control of the President or the Prime Minister, the head of a diplomatic mission abroad, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, a Special Self-Governing Province Governor, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (the head of a Gu refers to the head of an autonomous Gu), a superintendent of education, the president of a national university, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs of Staff of each service branch, a military commander, a corps commander, or a division commander (including military commanders of equivalent rank). <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 19(Conferment by delegation) #
If an order of merit or medal of honor is to be conferred by delegation under Article 30 of the Act, a request for such conferment shall be filed with the Minister of the Interior and Safety at least 3 days before the scheduled conferment date. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 20(Receipt by, or delivery to, bereaved family members or representatives) #
(1) When an order of merit or medal of honor is conferred on a bereaved family member or representative under Article 33 of the Act, the presentation of a certificate of bereaved family member issued by the head of a Si/Gun/Gu or a letter of authorization specified in Form 3 may be required, if necessary.
(2) If an order of merit or medal of honor is to be conferred on a bereaved family member by proxy under paragraph (1), the following order of priority shall apply: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Spouse;
2. Lineal descendants in order of seniority;
3. Parents;
4. Siblings in order of seniority;
5. A person designated by the recommending authority under Article 5 of the Act in consultation with the Minister of the Interior and Safety.
(3) If there is no eligible bereaved family member as specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2), the Minister of the Interior and Safety may record the fact of conferment in the register and need not deliver the relevant order of merit or medal of honor. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(4) When conferring an order of merit or medal of honor on a bereaved family member or representative under Article 33 of the Act, the order or medal may be presented through the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, a Special Self-Governing Province Governor, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (the head of a Gu refers to the head of an autonomous Gu), the head of a diplomatic mission abroad, or a unit commander. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2015>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 21(Occasions for wearing orders of merit and medals of honor) #
Orders of merit and medals of honor shall, in principle, be worn when attending ceremonies, such as national holidays, commemorative days prescribed by statues and regulations, military parades, and military reviews; and they may also be worn when attending holidays, memorial days, opening and closing ceremonies of the year, school entrance or graduation ceremonies, school foundation anniversaries, and other official events; provided, lapel badges may be worn on ordinary days.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 22(Orders of merit and medals of honor with attire) #
(1) When wearing orders of merit and medals of honor, badges and stars shall be worn with full dress uniforms, semi-formal dress, or dress uniforms (referring to those under the Decree on Military Uniforms and similar regulations regarding uniforms (hereinafter referred to as the “Uniform Decree”)), and badges and stars or miniature orders of merit (hereinafter referred to as “miniature orders”) or miniature medals of honor (hereinafter referred to as “miniature medals”) under Article 14 shall be worn with evening dress, semi-formal evening dress, ordinary clothes, or hanbok; provided, in special circumstances, orders of merit and medals of honor may be worn with combat uniforms (applicable only to those worn by military personnel, civilian personnel in the military service, police officials, or reservists).
(2) Ribbons may be worn on full dress uniforms, dress uniforms, and combat uniforms under the Uniform Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 23(Prohibition of wearing multiple types together) #
When wearing orders of merit and medals of honor, badges, miniature orders (or miniature medals), ribbons, and lapel badges must not be worn together; provided, this shall not apply in cases specified in the proviso of Article 22 (1).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 24(Order of wearing) #
(1) When an order of merit and a medal of honor are worn together, the order shall take precedence.
(2) The order of wearing merits of honor shall follow the order specified in Article 9 of the Act for orders of the same class; and for orders of different classes, the higher class shall take precedence.
(3) The order of wearing medals of honor shall, in principle, follow the order specified in Article 19 of the Act.
(4) Korean orders of merit and medals of honor shall take precedence over foreign ones; provided, this shall not apply if protocol requires otherwise.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 25(Methods of wearing orders of merit and medals of honor) #
(1) The wearing positions for each type of order of merit and medal of honor shall be as shown in Appendix 5.
(2) When wearing 2 or more orders of merit each consisting of a grand cordon or neck order together, only one badge and one star shall be worn; and in other cases, only the stars shall be worn on the left chest in order of precedence.
(3) When wearing 2 or more Third Class Orders of Merit (excluding Third Class Orders of Merit for National Foundation) simultaneously, their sashes shall be reduced into triangular shapes and worn on the left chest in order of precedence.
(4) Orders of merit and medals of honor in the form of breast ribbons shall be worn on the left chest in order of precedence.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 26(Methods of wearing medals of honor) #
Medals of honor shall be worn on the left chest in order of precedence under Article 24 (3).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 27(Methods of wearing ribbons) #
(1) Ribbons shall be worn on the upper left chest in order of precedence, and when wearing at least 15 ribbons, miniature ribbons may be worn.
(2) The wearing positions according to the number of ribbons shall be as shown in Appendix 6.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 28(Methods of wearing lapel badges) #
(1) Lapel badges shall be worn on the left lapel, and if at least 2 lapel badges have been awarded, only 1 of them shall be worn.
(2) The wearing position for lapel badges shall be as shown in Appendix 7.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 29(Wearing of miniature orders and miniature medals) #
Miniature orders and miniature medals shall be worn on the left chest in order of precedence, and the wearing positions shall be as shown in Appendix 8.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
Article 30(Indication of receipt of decoration) #
A person who has been awarded an order of merit or medal of honor (excluding those whose decoration has been revoked under Article 8 of the Act) may indicate such fact on their business cards, printed materials, or similar items.
[This Article Added on Nov. 22, 2016]
Article 31(Reissuance of orders of merit or medals of honor and issuance of award certificates) #
(1) A person seeking reissuance of an order of merit or medal of honor under Article 36 (1) of the Act shall file an application in Form 6 (including an application in electronic form), along with the following documents, with the Minister of the Interior and Safety: <Amended on Nov. 22, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. If the application is filed by the recipient of the order of merit or medal of honor: 1 copy of the recipient’s identification card;
2. If the application is filed by a bereaved family member of the recipient of the order of merit or medal of honor:
a. 1 copy of the applicant's identification card;
b. 1 certified copy of archived family register of the recipient of the order of merit or medal of honor;
3. If the application is filed by a representative of the recipient of the order of merit or medal of honor:
a. 1 copy of the power of attorney;
b. 1 copy of the identification card of the recipient of the order of merit or medal of honor;
c. 1 copy of the representative's identification card.
(2) A person seeking to receive a miniature order or miniature medal under Article 14 shall file an application in Form 6 (including an application in electronic form), along with documents classified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), with the Minister of the Interior and Safety. <Added on Nov. 22, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017>
(3) The production cost of an order of merit or medal of honor under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be borne by the applicant and paid directly to the manufacturer designated by the Minister of the Interior and Safety; provided, in the case of the President, foreign heads of state and their spouses, or foreigners, or where the Minister of the Interior and Safety deems it necessary, the production costs may be borne by the National Treasury. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Nov. 22, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017>
(4) No certificates of orders of merit or medals of honor shall be reissued; provided, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may issue a conferment certificate of an order of merit or medal of honor, upon application by the recipient, a bereaved family member, or a representative, if deemed necessary. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Nov. 22, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017>
(5) A person seeking issuance of a conferment certificate of an order of merit or medal of honor under paragraph (4) shall file an application in Form 7 (including an application in electronic form), along with documents classified in subparagraphs of paragraph (1), with the Minister of the Interior and Safety. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Nov. 22, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 32(Maintenance of register) #
(1) The Minister of the Interior and Safety shall prepare and maintain a register of persons awarded decorations. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) The register under paragraph (1) shall be prepared and maintained in an electronically processable manner unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.
(3) The decoration recommending authority shall prepare and maintain records regarding decoration recommendations, merit reviews, and other relevant details. <Added on Mar. 10, 2020>
(4) The retention periods for registers under paragraph (1) and records under paragraph (3) shall be as follows: <Added on Mar. 10, 2020>
1. Registers: Permanent;
2. Merit review reports and written resolutions of the Review Committee: Semi-permanent;
3. Recommendation and consent forms for decorations: 5 years;
4. Other supporting documents: 1 year.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 16, 2013]
[Title Amended on Mar. 10, 2020]
Article 33(Management of personally identifiable information) #
(1) The decoration recommending authority and the Minister of the Interior and Safety may manage data containing resident registration numbers or foreign registration numbers referred to in subparagraph 1 or 4 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act, if it is inevitable for performing the following business affairs: <Amended on Nov. 22, 2016, Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Business affairs regarding decoration recommendations and merit reviews under Article 5 of the Act;
2. Business affairs regarding the revocation of decorations and the recovery of orders of merit, medals of honor, and other related articles and money granted therewith under Article 8 of the Act;
3. Business affairs regarding the reissuance of orders of merit or medals of honor and issuance of conferment certificates under Article 36 of the Act and Article 31 of this Decree.
(2) If it is inevitable for performing business affairs regarding the revocation of decorations and the recovery of orders of merit, medals of honor, and other related articles and money granted therewith under Article 8 of the Act, the decoration recommending authority or the Minister of the Interior and Safety may request the heads of relevant administrative agencies to take the following measures: <Added on Nov. 22, 2016, Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Inspection of resident registration record cards or issuance of certified copies of household or individual register under Article 29 of the Resident Registration Act;
2. Access to, or utilization of, electronic data of resident registration recorded in resident registration cards under Article 30 of the Resident Registration Act.
[This Article Added on Dec. 31, 2015]
[Title Amended on Nov. 22, 2016]
Article 34(Operating rules) #
Except as provided in this Decree, matters necessary for the recommendation of decorations, etc. shall be determined by the Minister of the Interior and Safety.
[This Article Added on Mar. 10, 2020]