[1] The Korea Medal was created in 1951 to recognize specifically members of the armed forces from King George VI's various states at the time that participated in the Korean War;[2] namely, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

[7] However, he died on 6 February 1952 and so the image of his daughter was placed on the obverse of the medal, uncrowned, as per custom for sovereigns prior to their coronation.There are three versions of the inscription surrounding the Queen's head:[3] On the reverse is a depiction of Hercules wrestling the Hydra—a symbolic representation of communism—with the word KOREA below.

[3] This medal is worn on the left chest, suspended from a bar on a 31.8 millimetres (1.25 in) wide ribbon with five vertical stripes in alternating yellow and blue, the latter representing the United Nations.

A single bronze oak leaf emblem was issued to signify a Mention in Despatches,[9][8] which was worn pinned to the same ribbon from which the medal was hung.

[3] Any military members who had made an official visit to the region for a period of no less than 30 days were also eligible for the medal, as were those who had not fulfilled the requirements due to injury or death in combat.