Recently, the Defense Department has announced that Korean War veterans may accept and wear the (Republic of Korea) War Service Medal.

On August 20, 1998, Francis M. Rush Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, approved the acceptance and wear of the Korean Service Medal.
To be eligible for this foreign award, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps personnel must have:

1. Served between the outbreak of hostilities, June 25, 1950, and the date the armistice was signed, July 27, 1953.
2. Been on permanent assignment or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; and 3 below.
3. Performed their duty within the territorial limits of, in the waters immediately adjacent to or in aerial flight over Korea while supporting or participating in combat.