Thousands wed in first mass Moonie wedding since founder died

Over 3,500 couples were wed in a mass ceremony in South Korea this week, with a further 8,500 couples taking part online.

Taking place in a stadium in Gapyeong, east of Seoul, it was the first mass wedding of the controversial Unification Church since the death of its founder and leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon last year.

The religious followers (known as Moonies) wore identical outfits and many had only met just a few days before after choosing to be matched together by the 'True Mother', Moon's 70-year-old widow Hak Ja Han.

Of the 400 couples that choose to have Mrs Hak pick their future spouse, some didn't even speak the same language.

'Yeah, I was pretty nervous,' admitted Jin Davidson, a 21-year-old student from the United States, who was paired with Japanese bride, Kotona Shimizu, also 21.

'Then all of a sudden she popped up in front of me, and I said okay,' said Davidson, whose Australian father and Japanese mother were matched by Mr Moon.

'We struggle a little to communicate right now, as I speak no Japanese at all, and she only speaks a little English, but we see it as an exciting challenge and proof of our faith,' he added.

The mass weddings date back to the early 1960s and the church has been accused of showing cult tendencies, brainwashing and embezzlement.



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