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| First mass Moonie wedding since founder's death | First mass Moonie wedding since founder's death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have been married in South Korea in the first mass wedding organised by the Unification Church since the death of its founder. | Thousands of people have been married in South Korea in the first mass wedding organised by the Unification Church since the death of its founder. |
| Some 3,500 identically-dressed couples took part in the ceremony in Gapyeong, north-east of the capital, Seoul. | Some 3,500 identically-dressed couples took part in the ceremony in Gapyeong, north-east of the capital, Seoul. |
| A further 24,000 followers - often known as "Moonies" - were also married in other countries via video link. | A further 24,000 followers - often known as "Moonies" - were also married in other countries via video link. |
| The ceremony was presided over by Hak Ja-han, the widow of Sun Myung Moon, who died in September. | The ceremony was presided over by Hak Ja-han, the widow of Sun Myung Moon, who died in September. |
| An estimated 30,000 people attended the 92-year-old's funeral. | An estimated 30,000 people attended the 92-year-old's funeral. |
| Four hundred of the Church's members who were married on Sunday chose to have their partners selected for them by Mrs Hak, something her late husband also did. | Four hundred of the Church's members who were married on Sunday chose to have their partners selected for them by Mrs Hak, something her late husband also did. |
| "I was pretty nervous," Jin Davidson, a 21-year-old American, told the AFP news agency. "Then all of a sudden she popped up in front of me, and I said OK." | "I was pretty nervous," Jin Davidson, a 21-year-old American, told the AFP news agency. "Then all of a sudden she popped up in front of me, and I said OK." |
| Mr Davidson, whose parents were paired off by Mr Moon, said he struggled to communicate with his Japanese bride, Kotona Shimizu, 21. | Mr Davidson, whose parents were paired off by Mr Moon, said he struggled to communicate with his Japanese bride, Kotona Shimizu, 21. |
| "I speak no Japanese at all, and she only speaks a little English, but we see it as an exciting challenge and proof of our faith," he added. | "I speak no Japanese at all, and she only speaks a little English, but we see it as an exciting challenge and proof of our faith," he added. |
| The mass weddings began in the early 1960s and over the years grew in size. In 1997, some 30,000 couples were married in Washington. | |
| The Church has been accused of brainwashing its followers and embezzlement. | The Church has been accused of brainwashing its followers and embezzlement. |