Thousands marry in first 'post-Moon' mass wedding in S. Korea
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Couples from around the world participate in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013.-- PHOTO: AP
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A newly-married couple takes a nap before their mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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A bride checks her make up in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Couples from around the world bow to their family members and guests in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Newly-married couples from around the world cheer in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Newly-married couples hold hands to pray during a mass wedding organised by the Unification Church and held in the church's headquarters in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013, that saw some 3,500 couples matched by the church tie the knot. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Newly-married couples sit down at the Unification Church's mass wedding held at the church's headquarters in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Natalia Ladstaotter, from Austria (centre) and her groom Colin Brouard, from England (left) cheer during a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -PHOTO: AP
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Couples from around the world participate in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Newlyweds celebrate during a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Han Hak Ja (right), widow of Evangelist Reverend Sun-Myung Moon, sprays holy water to bless newlyweds during a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Thousands of newlyweds attend a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Couples from around the world participate in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013.-- PHOTO: AP
A newly-married couple takes a nap before their mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
A bride checks her make up in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Couples from around the world bow to their family members and guests in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Newly-married couples from around the world cheer in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Newly-married couples hold hands to pray during a mass wedding organised by the Unification Church and held in the church's headquarters in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013, that saw some 3,500 couples matched by the church tie the knot. -- PHOTO: AFP
Newly-married couples sit down at the Unification Church's mass wedding held at the church's headquarters in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Natalia Ladstaotter, from Austria (centre) and her groom Colin Brouard, from England (left) cheer during a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -PHOTO: AP
Couples from around the world participate in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, on Sunday, Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Newlyweds celebrate during a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Han Hak Ja (right), widow of Evangelist Reverend Sun-Myung Moon, sprays holy water to bless newlyweds during a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Thousands of newlyweds attend a mass wedding ceremony of the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, Seoul, on Feb 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
GAPYEONG, South Korea (AFP) - Thousands of Unification Church members got married in a mass wedding in South Korea on Sunday - the first since the death of their "messiah" and controversial church founder Sun Myung Moon.
Some 3,500 identically-dressed couples - many of mixed nationality who had met just days before - took part in the ceremony at the church's global headquarters in Gapyeong, east of the capital Seoul.
Mass weddings, some held in giant sports stadiums with tens of thousands of couples, have long been a signature feature of the church and one that "Moonie" critics have pointed to as evidence of cult underpinnings.
