Republic of Korea (South Korea)

[Dfifer]

Grand Order of Mugunhwa

Issued from 1949 to 1967. The pendant is described as 87mm by 82mm with the Mugunghwa flower being 58mm across and the Taeguk symbol having a diameter of 10mm. The Order is made of gold with silver being used to accent the Mugunghwa flowers along the length of the chain. The flowers on the chain represent each of the provinces and the cities of Seoul and Pusan which have provincial statue. Minor variations are known to exist.

The other style issued after 1967 has been changed several times. Today the Gold version is issued in either a male or a female size for Heads of State, while the Silver version is issued in either a male or a female size for the spouses of Heads of State.

[Megan]

Right - that's the one I have a picture of as well... so I need to change my page to reflect the dates... and then try to find a high-quality picture of the current version (that's the hard part).

[IVB]

I found some great photos in the Web.

Grand Order of Mugunghwa (post 1973).

[IVB]

Order of National Foundation (post 1990).

1st Class.

Edited August 18, 2008 by IVB

[IVB]

Order of National Foundation (post 1990).

3rd Class in box, with certificate.

[IVB]

Order of Civil Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

Edited August 18, 2008 by IVB

[IVB]

Man awarded Order of Civil Merit, 2nd Class.

[IVB]

Order of Military Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Service Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of National Security Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (post 1974).

1st Class, 1st Grade.

[IVB]

Order of Industrial Service Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Saemaeul Service Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Culture Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Sport Merit (post 1973).

1st Class.

[IVB]

Order of Science and Technology Merit (2001).

5th Class in box, with certificate.

Edited August 18, 2008 by IVB

[IVB]

This orders I have never seen before:

[IVB]

More:

Regards, IVB.

[Megan]

Where did you find those?

I can feel some more web-searching coming on, then e-mails asking permission to use pictures!

[Ed_Haynes]

Some very nice -- and very rare -- orders from the Japanese-puppet Korean administration. Wow!

Edited August 18, 2008 by Ed_Haynes

[Hugh]

Speaking of Japanese administered Korea, I saw this at OMSA last weekend. The owner only wanted $35,000 for it. Yes, I did put the decimal point in the right place! Anyone have the name for it?

Sorry for the poor quality, but the price probably made me shaky, and the macro setting just magnified the tremor.

[Hugh]

Here's the star.

[JBFloyd]

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Plum Blossom, a one-class order created in 1900.

[Hugh]

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Plum Blossom, a one-class order created in 1900.

Thanks, Jeff, So before the Japanese. Interesting how reminiscent the suspension is of the Japanese.

Hugh

[Ed_Haynes]

Thanks, Jeff, So before the Japanese. Interesting how reminiscent the suspension is of the Japanese.

Hugh

Actually, by the end of the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, the Japanese ran Korea. Almost total dominantion (with some Russian influence) until 1905.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Ed_Haynes