They've been called a cult, accused of coercive fundraising, and legally disbanded in Japan. But in a mountainous town nestled in South Korea, thousands of "Moonies" gathered this month for a mass wedding.
Around 1,300 couples from dozens of countries tied the knot at the Unification Church’s sprawling headquarters in Gapyeong, north of Seoul, under the supervision of their controversial leader, known as the "holy mother".
The spectacular tradition, which dates back to the first so-called "blessing ceremony" featuring 36 couples in 1961, is an integral part of the broadly neo-Christian beliefs held by the church, founded by Moon Sun-myung and now run by his widow, Han Hak-ja.
The church claims these mass weddings can help reverse South Korea's woeful birthrate, improve family values, and ultimately bring about Moon's goal of completing the unfulfilled mission of Jesus Christ to restore humanity to a state of "sinless" purity.
"I'm just really grateful," American Emmanuel Muyongo, 29, told AFP at the ceremony, where he married his Japanese wife, whom he met years ago and grew close to at a church in the United States.
Muyongo's own parents married at a mass wedding, and he said that he was honored "to experience what my parents' experienced".
"We love you, Holy Mother Han!" the couples shouted in unison at one point during the event, which featured blaring fanfare and confetti cannons.
Han, 82, looked almost eerily calm throughout the festivities, once slowly waving at her excited followers while wearing sunglasses and a green dress.
The church, which was founded in 1954, claims to have around three million followers globally -- including 300,000 in South Korea, 600,000 in Japan -- and oversees a sprawling business empire encompassing construction, tourism, education and media, among others.
But in Japan, the church has been accused of coercive fundraising, especially after the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, allegedly carried out by a man who harbored resentment toward the sect.
A court there revoked its legal status as an organization last month, although its members can continue to meet.
Abe's accused killer blamed the church for his family's financial ruin, after his mother made huge donations. Abe -- along with other world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump -- had sent video messages to events linked to the church.
But at the mass wedding this month, followers were unfazed by the recent legal blow, with the visibly emotional couples -- including Japanese -- radiating joy and gratitude to Han.
After Moon's 2012 death, Han stepped up to lead the church and is now referred to by members as god's "only begotten daughter" and the "holy mother".
The church has links to everything from a major South Korean newspaper to a high-end ski resort used for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. It is also affiliated with esteemed art institutes.
In 1991, Han joined her late husband -- revered by followers as a messiah but dismissed by critics as a charlatan -- on his trip to North Korea to meet with its founder, Kim Il Sung, to discuss the reunification of the divided peninsula.
When her husband died, North Korea's current leader Kim Jong Un sent a personal message of condolence. He later presented her with a pair of North Korean Pungsan dogs, a token of his goodwill.
This week, South Korean media alleged that the church had bribed former first lady Kim Keon Hee -- whose husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, was recently ousted over his declaration of martial law -- with a diamond necklace worth around $41,970.
The church has appealed the Japanese court's decision.
Experts say that Japan, Korea's former colonial ruler, has long been a financial hub for the sect.
"Usually, religious businesses like Unification Church target isolated lower-middle class individuals," Vladimir Tikhonov, Korean Studies professor at the University of Oslo, told AFP.
"Their main 'hunting ground' is not South Korea, it is actually Japan," he added.
Since the 1960s, the church is believed to have generated as much as 80 percent of its global revenues from Japan, according to Levi McLaughlin, a religious studies professor at North Carolina State University.
During Japan's 1980s bubble economy, its branch reportedly sent up to 10 billion yen ($70 million) per month to the South Korean headquarters.
Japanese followers are told to "atone" for the country's colonial past, and McLaughlin told AFP the mass weddings have been framed as a form of "indemnity".
The church plays a role in match-making couples, experts say, with Japanese women often matched with non-Japanese men -- and critics slam the cult-like cutting of family ties that sometimes results.
But this month in Gapyeong, more than 1,000 couples -- each bride in near-identical white gowns and modest tiaras -- wiped away tears, held hands tightly, and swayed to music as they danced and took selfies.
The couples "started from happiness and love, but it seems that those who don't understand it well are misinterpreting it and only seeing the negative aspects", Remi Kosuga, 27, one of the brides, told AFP. "We simply want to believe in and learn about love. ... I hope people can see that."
© 2025 AFP
26 Comments
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TokyoLiving
Dangerous sect..
Fighto!
Dangerous weirdo cult brainwashing the weak of society. I pity them.
BB
It seems like an awful lot of people join one kind of sect or another - be it religious or anti-science or political. Would be interesting to study cultists and conspiracy theorists to see what drives them into these belief systems. Fear, probably, at least on one level.
Negative Nancy
It all seems weird to me, but then that's not exclusive to this particular sect. They have customs that differ from those that we are familiar with, but they're no worse than any of the others. I guess its good for those involved that they found happiness, even if its not to our taste.
If you really, really must be religious, and I know it gives comfort to many people, then try to do so without paying for it. Surely 'god' does not value financial wealth?
BertieWooster
The "Unification Church" has little to do with religion and much to do with politics. Founded by the Korean wing of the CIA, it was set up as an anti-communist tool:
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81M00980R000600200010-3.pdf
sakurasuki
How many family need to be ruined in past, and also in the future.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unification-church-japan-moonies-tax-exempt-religion-status-victim-compensation/
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14678780
WoodyLee
NO Thank you,
Just keep it were it all started and leave the rest of the world alone. Best of Luck to all.
WoodyLee
Happiness comes from within, you either have or you don't.
No need for a Church, a Mosque, a Synagogue to Temple or any other faith to have it.
We are born Happy until we decide to reverse and become Unhappy.
Larry Lacky
The headline is interesting but after so many newly weds, I fail to see what court blow is. I thought….. nevermind
OssanAmerica
It's got to be cheaper than the average cost of a wedding in South Korea at 30 -50 million Won (USD 22,000-37,000),
Brainwashing is a scary thing.
Pukey2
Scientology, Moonies, Falun Gung - all cults designed the suck the life and dollars out of its members. Notice the heads of these cults are mega-millionaires if not billionaires.
Mainstream media like BBC, CNN, Fox, NHK are bad enough.
Yrral
Ossan,same can be said about the way Japanese, willingly give up their individualism for group think
Jonathan Prin
If there is money involved, there is a scam.
When you hear about a holy mother, a 6 year old kid could see it is a cult. Like a religion by the way.
Jesse Long
The people that are decrying against religious cults are ironically peddling the same things, despite their claims otherwise on those matters. Also, any arguments to the contrary are invalid, as cults ironically use shame and fear tactics to intimidate people into giving into their ideologies, and Atheism, as well as all of its related ilk, do so as well, with Scientology being a part of it as well, as they all rule by people that have big egos, and tiny brains, that peddle myths, fairy tales, and fictional doctrines, of themselves, other people, ideologies, ideals, concepts, and states, rather than the Truth of how the cosmos really works. Honestly, it is like the Bloods, the Crips, the Vice Lords, the Gangster Disciples, the Hell's Angels, the Mongols, MS-13, Los Zetas, the Triads, the Yakuza, La Cosa Nostra, Bratva, etc., all trying to criminalize, as well as legitimize, one another when they are ALL crooked, corrupt, and evil, including the governmental organizations that allegedly oppose them as well, and any of the commenters that say otherwise, aside from myself, and those that know these things as I do, is a liar, period, full stop. Finally, why is it logical, reasonable, and rational that people follow movements that call their followers as "useful (useless) idiots"? The harsh and bitter truth is that a person would have to be an idiot to follow something that claims to be logical, reasonable, and rational, yet ironically refers to their followers as such a term in their lives, and, as a truly logical, reasonable, and rational person, I have no use for their own religious cults, as they have shed more blood in the names of their own religions than anyone else, including the Muslims, whose hands are quite stained with crimson themselves, and ditto for Hindus.
Yrral
Moonies knows they had a built in market in Japan,that why they were easily able to get a niche in Japan society,just because they are banned ,they will not go away
Jesse Long
Sailor Moon whenever she sees an article about Moonies, "For the last time, I am NOT a part of this movement, and neither are those guys that have that car products company (Moon Eyes)! Also, quit trying to recruit myself, and my friends, into this movement! Honestly, I don't mind the car company so much, as they've got some cool products, but I won't have anything to do with the cult weirdos, and if you all keep it up, then I'm going to get a lawyer after you all"!
Jesse Long
Also, speaking of religion, I find it rather ironic, as well as hypocritical, that Japan rejects YAHWEH EL ELOHIM, yet they embrace Shintoism and its prayers have been proven to be in Hebrew, rather than in Japanese, which is proof that Japan has been the site of a possible Jewish/Hebraic/Israelite diaspora in the past. Japan is very stupid to assume that every form of Christianity and Judaism is going to be like Roman Catholicism, or even the Moonies, which means that they just want to peddle the agendas that THEY want, rather than admit to the truth of them rejecting the Truth from their land, which is why it is a dystopian nightmare, as is the USA, China, and elsewhere worldwide. People always clamor for the truth when it is ironically far from them in their lives.
Bob
"The danger in a lie is the amount of truth contained in it."
Hiro
The whole point of marriage is to find the most convenient timing for the couple to finally settle down whenever they seem fit. Where families and friends gather from both side and wish them well. It's suppose to be the happiest moment of the couple because it's their moment and allow them to plan their wedding however they see fit.
To get 1000 marriage in a single day require everyone to give up their best moments of their lives for the cult. There is no way any of this is even remotely normal. How many of these couple even last? How much money did the cult pocket from this?
Garthgoyle
Happiness and love... the horror stories that come after these mass weddings are popcorn worthy.
Ban them already.
Yrral
That woman gazing into her cellphone, should be a warning sign for her husband
Tony W.
It seems like an awful lot of people join one kind of sect or another - be it religious or anti-science or political. Would be interesting to study cultists and conspiracy theorists to see what drives them into these belief systems. Fear, probably, at least on one level.
That's probably right, the need to know what's really going on, and the feeling that if you are part of it. you might eventually know. Better to remain apart and consider at a distance!
Yohan
Some people will always continue to give money to questionable cults. It's for them somewhat like an expensive hobby.
About these mass marriages, legally seen they are not valid. More likely it's a dating club. To be considered to be married legally the couple has to register officially their marriage - no idea how many of these cult members will really do that.
This moonie cult will not go away in Japan, however it will be banned operating as a religious organization and therefore it will face soon a visit from the taxman asking for income tax.
I think all religious organizations in Japan should be subject to proper bookkeeping, reporting and paying income tax same as any other company which are not dealing with religious stuff.
starpunk
These weddings are all set up, a sham. When a 'religion' determines every facet of your life, even to this point and drawing you away from your family + friends to live your life exclusively centered around the 'church', it's not a church. That's a CULT.
In several locations throughout the US on April 8 several couples tied the knot. Hundreds, maybe thousands. Thing was, this was because the couples knew each other and wanted to marry. It was dubbed 'Elope with the Eclipse' because that day we enjoyed a total solar eclipse. The mass ceremonies were held intentionally for that occasion and the mates (straight and gay) had chosen each other.
'Well, the God I believe in is never short of ca$h, mister'. - Bono of U2
elephant200
They have to give up most if their savings and property to the Unification Church for a spouse who they never knew and never met before?
Sounds lije a scamming !
kurisupisu
So, the church of Moon gives people a sense of belonging, purpose and a chance at finding a life partner.
Japanese society doesn’t seem to be able to compete, does it?