Mass wedding in South Korea

Mass wedding in South Korea

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About 3,000 couples from 62 countries tied the knot in South Korea in a mass wedding ceremony conducted by the Unification Church founded by the late Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

A further 12,000 couples worldwide participated in the ceremony via the Internet, said Ryu Kyeung-seuk, president of the South Korean headquarters of the church.

. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Moon, who died in 2012 at the age of 92, had presided over mass weddings since the early 1960s.

His widow, Hak Ja Han Moon, officiated at the ceremony, which was witnessed by about 22,000 church followers and guests gathered at the church's CheongShim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong northeast of Seoul.

. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

The couples included 1,000 who were newly wed and about 2,000 who were already married and seeking to re-dedicate their marriages and families to God as they had married before joining the church.

"We've been engaged for over one year now, mostly been separated, so of course it's extremely good to be together again," said Hyo-joo Song, from Britain, who married his Japanese wife.

"And yes, we're happy to be married and also share that experience with many other people."

. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Moon was a lightning rod for controversy and was once jailed in the United States for tax evasion. He also declared in 1992 that he and his wife were messiahs.

Critics over the years have called the organisation a cult, questioning its finances and how it indoctrinates followers, who are sometimes derogatorily known as "Moonies."

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Slideshow

Lee Hee Wolf from the U.S. fixes her wedding dress.
. Yangpyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Lee Hee Wolf from the U.S. fixes her wedding dress.

Japanese brides receive a makeover.
. Yangpyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Japanese brides receive a makeover.

Meena Okamoto from the U.S. talks with her groom Jaronce Dutil of Canada.
. Yangpyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Meena Okamoto from the U.S. talks with her groom Jaronce Dutil of Canada.

Couples pass time during the opening ceremony for the mass wedding.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Couples pass time during the opening ceremony for the mass wedding.

Kim Sung-hyun (left) and Jeon Lee-ju from South Korea pray.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Kim Sung-hyun (left) and Jeon Lee-ju from South Korea pray.

Yoo Jung-seuk from South Korea (left) and Tasaka Yumi from Japan pose for photographs.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Yoo Jung-seuk from South Korea (left) and Tasaka Yumi from Japan pose for photographs.

A couple wait before orientation.
. Yangpyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A couple wait before orientation.

Couples rehearse in front of a portrait of the late evangelist Reverend Moon Sun-myung and his wife Han Hak-ja.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Couples rehearse in front of a portrait of the late evangelist Reverend Moon Sun-myung and his wife Han Hak-ja.

A newly-wed couple prays during the mass wedding ceremony.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A newly-wed couple prays during the mass wedding ceremony.

A girl queues for the toilet.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A girl queues for the toilet.

A bride walks past grooms queuing for the toilet.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A bride walks past grooms queuing for the toilet.

A groom takes a selfie with a cardboard cut-out of late evangelist Reverend Moon Sun-myung and his wife.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A groom takes a selfie with a cardboard cut-out of late evangelist Reverend Moon Sun-myung and his wife.

A newly-wed couple celebrates.
. Gapyeong, South Korea. Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A newly-wed couple celebrates.