Sun Myung Moon

Thousands of couples took part in a mass wedding on Tuesday at the South Korean headquarters of the Unification Church -- the third such event since the death of their "messiah" and church founder Sun Myung Moon.

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon was a self-proclaimed messiah who built a global business empire. He called both North Korean leaders and American presidents his friends, but spent time in prisons in both countries. His followers around the world cherished him, while his detractors accused him of brainwashing recruits and extracting money from worshippers.

Thousands of couples took part in a mass wedding on Tuesday at the South Korean headquarters of the Unification Church -- the third such event since the death of their "messiah" and church founder Sun Myung Moon.

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon was a self-proclaimed messiah who built a global business empire. He called both North Korean leaders and American presidents his friends, but spent time in prisons in both countries. His followers around the world cherished him, while his detractors accused him of brainwashing recruits and extracting money from worshippers.