Unification Church founder dies at 92

통일교 창시자 문선명 총재가 향년 92세를 일기로 3일 새벽 1시 54분에 경기도 가평의 청심국제병원에서 별세 했다. 문선명 총재의 빈소는 청심평화월드센터에 마련될 예정이다. [서울=뉴시스]

Rev. Moon Sun-myung, the founder of the Unification Church, a business and media mogul, died today in a hospital in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi.

He was 92.The religious leader passed away shortly before 2 a.m. at the Cheongshim International Medical Center, Unification Church-affiliated hospital, due to complication from pneumonia.

Moon was initially admitted to the intensive care unit at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Aug. 14 for symptoms of colds and pneumonia. After doctors stated that his condition was “not treatable with current medicine,” he was transferred to Cheongshim on Friday.

The head of a multibillion-dollar business empire, which included a media corporation that founded the Washington Times in 1982, was born January 6, 1920 in the North Korean province of North Pyongan and after enduring prison camp there, moved to the South in 1950.

In 1954, Moon founded the controversial Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in Seoul, known as the Unification Church, which eventually spread in popularity in the United States and across the world.

The church, most known for its mass weddings, claims to have millions of followers in 194 countries around the world.The funeral is scheduled to take place on Sept. 15 at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong after a 13-day mourning period.

The burial will be at Mt. Cheonseung, in Gyeonggi, said the Church. A memorial altar will be set up for the religious leader on Thursday, who has faced imprisonment six times in his life.Moon’s youngest son Rev. Moon Hyung-jin took over the leadership of the church in 2008.

By Sarah Kim, Yonhap
[sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]