Sun Myung Moon

Profession: Evangelist

Nationality:

Biography: Sun Myung Moon was a South Korean religious leader, businessman, and founder of the Unification Church. His organization is known for its mass wedding ceremonies and for the theological text, the Divine Principle. Moon was also known for his influence in various media, political circles, and his legal challenges, including a conviction for tax fraud in the United States.

Moon founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in Seoul in 1954 after claiming to have had a vision of Jesus Christ at the age of 16. He developed the Divine Principle, the foundational text for the Unification Church, which emphasizes family values and a new interpretation of Christianity.

He married Hak Ja Han in 1960 and was known for Unification Church marriage ceremonies, where thousands of couples were married in mass events. In 1971, Moon moved to the United States, expanding his religious movement and engaging in public discourse. He founded The Washington Times and News World Communications.

Moon faced legal issues and was convicted for filing false federal income tax returns in the United States v. Sun Myung Moon case in 1982. He served 13 months in prison, which led to public discussions about religious freedom. Moon also involved himself in anti-communist advocacy and supported Korean reunification efforts.

Born: February 25, 1920
Birthplace: Chongju, Korea

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Pisces

Died: September 3, 2012 (aged 92)