Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin has presented the Australian General Service Medal for Korea to three New South Wales veterans who served in post-armistice Korea.

"Establishing the Australian General Service Medal for Korea fulfils a Rudd Labor Government election commitment. I am pleased to present these medals to these veterans who served in Korea," Mr Griffin said

As part of its 2007 election platform, the Australian Government made a commitment to fully implement the recommendations of the 2005 Post-Armistice Korean Service Review. One of the recommendations was to establish an Australian General Service Medal for Korea, providing medallic recognition for Defence Force personnel who served in South Korea during the post-armistice period of 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956.

In October 2008 the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced that the Government would seek Royal Assent to create a new medal to recognise this service. The medal was designed and the regulations formulated in 2009. On 12 February 2010 it was announced that the design and regulations had been approved by Her Majesty the Queen.

Mr Griffin also said that the Australian General Service Medal for Korea recognises former Defence Force personnel who completed 30 days participating in operations in South Korea including any location within 161 kilometres seaward from the coast of South Korea during the post-armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956. This is consistent with the recommendations of the Post-Armistice Korean Service Review Report, which was released in December 2005.