Belgian United Nations Command

Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC)
Luxembourgish soldier, part of B.U.N.C. in Korea, 1953
Active	1950–1955
Country	Belgium  Luxembourg  Republic of Korea
Allegiance	United Nations
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry Battalion
Size	3,171 Belgians and 78 Luxembourgers (over duration of war)
Part of	British 29th Brigade US 1st Cavalry Division US 3rd Infantry Division
Nickname(s)	"Brown Berets"
Engagements	Battle of the Imjin River Battle of Haktang-ni Battle of Chatkol
Decorations	2 ROK Presidential Unit Citations US Presidential Unit Citation Belgian Order of Leopold
Battle honours	Imjin, Haktang-ni and Chatkol
Disbanded	1955
Commanders
Notable commanders	Albert Crahay Lt. Col. G. Vivario Lt. Col. R. Gathy

The Belgian United Nations Command (B.U.N.C.), also known as the Belgian Volunteer Corps for Korea or "Brown Berets", is the name given to the Belgian-Luxembourgish military force sent to South Korea to fight in the Korean War by the Belgian government of Joseph Pholien. The battalion served in Korea between 1951 and August 1955, staying in Korea even after the signing of the armistice.

By the end of this period, 3,171 Belgians and 78 Luxembourgers had served tours of duty in Korea.

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Belgium was experiencing a period of turmoil. Belgium had been occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War between 1940–4 and reconstruction was still very much in progress. Politically, the country was torn over the issue of the so-called Royal Question. With the centrist parties thus occupied, both Communist and right-wing Flemish nationalist parties enjoyed considerable support. The Prime Minister in office, when the UN declaration calling for soldiers to be sent to the aid of Korea was sent, was Joseph Pholien of the Christian Social Party who was politically opposed to the rise of communism abroad and wished to gain support from the United States. Both the Belgian and Luxembourgish governments decided to comply with the UN request to send troops to assist South Korea.

Over 2000 Belgians volunteered for service in B.U.N.C. Of these, initially only 700 were selected for training at Leopoldsburg. After training, volunteers received their characteristic brown berets. Soldiers from Luxembourg who were trained alongside the Belgians were organised into 1st Platoon, A Company of B.U.N.C.