Thousands of morners attended the funeral of the controversial religious leader Reverand Sun Myung Moon, known for conducting mass weddings.

The controversial head of the Unification Church, known to followers as the 'true father', died earlier this month age 92. The leader of the group, often known as the 'Moonies', was buried in a mansion designed to look like the White House in South Korea.

His youngest son wept as he spoke during his father's funeral at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea.

funeral moonies

The Rev. Hyung-jin Moon, the youngest son of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, becomes emotional as he speaks during his father's funeral


According to the Unification Church, 35,000 attended the two-hour service, which was broadcast live on the web.

Anja Brina, a mourner from Germany, said: "He was not a god. I think he was like a messiah, through whom you can reach God."

sun myung moon funeral

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of the controversial religious leader

Moon founded the Church in 1954, and in time it spread to the United States and developed a separate business empire.

The church - which claims to have three million followers worldwide, a figure that is disputed - is run by one of Moon's sons.

He is survived by his wife and 10 living children.

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  • Sun Myung Moon

    Bereaved family members carry a coffin containing a body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, during his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • The Rev. Hyung-jin Moon, the youngest son of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, attends his father's funeral at the CheongShim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Hye Soo Nah)

  • Mourners raise arms after a funeral of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • The Rev. Hyung-jin Moon, the youngest son of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, becomes emotional as he speaks during his father's funeral at the CheongShim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Hye Soo Nah)

  • Mourners weep during a funeral of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • A family member carries a portrait of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon during Moon's funeral at the CheongShim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Hye Soo Nah)

  • Family and relatives of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon carry the coffin during the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon's funeral at the CheongShim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Hye Soo Nah)

  • Sun Myung Moon

    Unification Church honor guards carry a coffin containing a body of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, after his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • Sun Myung Moon

    A hearse, left, carrying the body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church preceded by a vehicle displaying Moon's photograph, leaves after his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • The Rev. Hyung-jin Moon, the youngest son of late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, attends his father's funeral at the CheongShim Peace World Center, Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Hye Soo Nah)

  • Bereaved family members pay tribute to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, during his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • Sun Myung Moon

    Bereaved family members carry a portrait and coffin of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, after his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

  • Sun Myung Moon

    Bereaved family members carry a coffin containing a body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the controversial founder of the Unification Church, during his funeral service at the CheongShim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)