Sun Myung Moon, Moonies church founder, dies aged 92

Self-styled messiah Rev. Sun Myung Moon, whose Unification Church became famous for marrying thousands of people in a single ceremony, has died, aged 92.

Sun Myung Moon set up the Church, popularly known as the Moonies, in the 1950s in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

He attracted huge publicity through mass weddings, and his claims to be the new messiah chosen by God.

Sun Myung Moon was also a fervent anti-Communist and set up newspapers and media businesses around the world.

Church officials told the Associated Press news agency that Moon died on Monday at a hospital near his home in Gapyeong, north-east of Seoul.

He had been admitted to the hospital, which is owned by the Church, two weeks ago suffering from pneumonia.

The Church became notorious in the 1960s and 70s, often being accused of brainwashing members, breaking up families and lining Moon’s pockets.

He denied the allegations, but had to spend 11 months in jail after being convicted of tax evasion in 1982.

Sun Myung Moon owned large and lavish properties in the US, founded the Washington Times newspaper and ran arms factories in South Korea.