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Funeral held for 'Moonie' Church founder Sun Myung Moon Funeral held for 'Moonie' Church founder Sun Myung Moon
(about 1 hour later)
Tens of thousands of mourners are attending the funeral in South Korea of religious leader Sun Myung Moon. Tens of thousands of people have attended the funeral in South Korea of religious leader Sun Myung Moon.
The founder of the Unification Church, who died this month aged 92, is being buried near the church's headquarters in the resort of Gapyeong. The founder of the Unification Church died earlier this month, aged 92. On Saturday his red and gold coffin was carried into a vast arena filled with mourners near Seoul.
The church, which was founded at the end of the Korean war and claims millions of members worldwide, became famous for its mass wedding ceremonies. The church, which claims millions of members worldwide, became famous for its mass wedding ceremonies.
But it was also accused of brainwashing converts, often known as "Moonies".But it was also accused of brainwashing converts, often known as "Moonies".
Church officials said about 35,000 mourners were expected to attend the funeral, including 15,000 from overseas. An estimated 30,000 mourners - including thousands from overseas - attended the funeral at the Church's headquarters in the resort of Gapyeong north-east of the capital, Seoul.
The main ceremony is being held in a large covered stadium, where wreaths of flowers have been laid. Many sobbed quietly as an honour guard, accompanied by members of Moon's immediate family, carried the coffin through the stadium and placed it at the foot of huge portrait.
The Unification Church also developed a global business empire, setting up newspapers, arms factories, universities and food distributors. Moon, who had been suffering from pneumonia, died on 3 September at a hospital in Gapyeong.
Moon, who had been suffering from pneumonia, died on 3 September at a hospital in Gapyeong, north-east of the capital, Seoul. He was born in 1920 in Pyongyang province in what is now North Korea, and established the Church in refugee camps in 1954, saying he had been asked by Jesus to set up God's kingdom on Earth.
He was born in 1920 in Pyongyang province in what is now North Korea, and established the Church in a refugee camps in 1954, saying he had been asked by Jesus to set up God's kingdom on Earth. Moon denied allegations of brainwashing, but spent 11 months in jail in the US - where he moved to in the early 1970s - after being convicted of tax evasion in 1982.
Moon denied allegations of brainwashing, but spent 11 months in jail in the US - where he moved in the early 1970s - after being convicted of tax evasion in 1982. The Unification Church has developed a global business empire, setting up newspapers, arms factories, universities and food distributors.
He returned to South Korea in 2006, leaving his religious and business empire in the hands of some of his 14 children.He returned to South Korea in 2006, leaving his religious and business empire in the hands of some of his 14 children.
He forged ties with North Korea, meeting founder Kim Il-sung in 1991 and sending a delegation to pay respects after the death of Kim Jong-il.He forged ties with North Korea, meeting founder Kim Il-sung in 1991 and sending a delegation to pay respects after the death of Kim Jong-il.
Are you attending the funeral? Are you a follower of Sun Myung Moon? Share your thoughts and experiences with us using the form below.Are you attending the funeral? Are you a follower of Sun Myung Moon? Share your thoughts and experiences with us using the form below.