The medal is also granted for 60 non-consecutive days of service, which includes reservists on annual training in South Korea.

Exceptions are made for the 30/60 days time requirement if a service member participated in a combat armed engagement, was wounded or injured in the line of duty requiring medical evacuation, or participated as a regularly assigned aircrew member in flying sorties which totaled more than 30 days of duty in South Korean airspace.

As an official U.S. Department of Defense exception to policy, service members may be entitled to both the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the KDSM for participation in operations in South Korea during the same timeframe between October 1, 1966 and June 30, 1974.

Only one award of the Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized, regardless of the amount of time served in the South Korean theater.

The obverse bears a Korean "circle dragon", surrounded by a scroll inscribed KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE.