Unification Church

Religious organization established in Seoul by Sun Myung Moon, who claimed to be the Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ, completing Jesus's unfulfilled mission of establishing God's kingdom on Earth. The church's theology centers on Moon's Divine Principle, which teaches that humanity fell through illicit sexual relationships and requires restoration through blessed marriages arranged by Moon himself. Members regard Moon and his wife Hak Ja Han as the True Parents of humanity.

The movement gained international attention through mass wedding ceremonies, including a 1982 Madison Square Garden event blessing 2,075 couples and a 1995 ceremony involving 360,000 couples worldwide. The church's recruitment practices, particularly targeting college students, drew accusations of brainwashing and cult behavior from families and anti-cult organizations. Members often lived communally, devoted extensive time to fundraising activities selling flowers and other items, and surrendered personal assets to the organization.

Beyond religious activities, the church developed a vast business empire spanning media, manufacturing, real estate, and political organizations. Moon founded The Washington Times newspaper in 1982, acquired significant real estate holdings, and established the World Peace Unification Sanctuary. The organization faced government investigations in multiple countries, including Moon's 1982 conviction for tax fraud in the United States. Despite legal challenges and persistent cult allegations, the Unification Church maintains operations worldwide, continuing mass blessing ceremonies and promoting Moon's teachings on family values and world unity.