Korea

The participation of Belgium in the Korean War

The participation of Belgium in the Korean War has largely been forgotten, but it's a tale worth telling. On 25 June 1950, the northern Korean army crossed the 38th parallel, attacking its fellow countrymen in the south. Following diplomatic moves by the United States, the United Nations Security Council recommended the deployment of all forces to repel the northerners, under American Commander-in-chief McArthur. The two sides started negotiations on 10 July 1951. They would continue for two years, eventually resulting in an armistice signed on 27 July 1953.
Just after the start of hostilities, the Belgian government took the decision to establish an army corps of around a thousand men residing under allied command. The corps was made up of 3,587 Belgians and 85 Luxembourgers.

Belgian United Nations Command

The corps was officially known as the Belgian United Nations Command. Its volunteers -whose fame is not as great as it should be- were called Brown Berets, a reference to the headgear awarded to them in recognition of their success in physical tests. This beret was adorned with an insignia with a coat of arms in the middle depicting the Belgian Lion resting on the symbols of the two Communities: a Walloon and a Flemish army corps, which formed a cross, topped by the helmet of a Brabant chevalier symbolizing the anticommunist struggle. On the left sleeve, under the name of the country, there was a white badge on a brown background depicting the golden head of the Belgian Lion in the middle, mouth open and framed on four corners by the Belgian tricolor over the blue flag of the United Nations.
The Volunteer Corps was awarded four Belgian citations for its heroism, which permitted the battalion to fasten the cord in the colors of the order of Leopold 11 to its flagpole.

Stamp in detail

Issue: 9 May 2005, Belgium
Stamp size: 27.66 x 40.20 mm
Print: rotogravure
Design: Myriam Voz and Thierry Martin

More information

Stamps of Belgium
Postage stamps 2005
War and peace