Hyung Jin Moon

Hyung Jin Moon
Hangul 문형진
Hanja 文亨進
Revised Romanization Mun Hyeong-jin
McCune–Reischauer Mun Hyŏngjin

Hyung Jin Moon is the international president of the Unification Church.[1] He is the youngest son of Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han Moon. He was born September 26, 1979 in the United States. He has degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Divinity School.[2]

In April 2008, Sun Myung Moon (then 88 years old) appointed Hyung Jin Moon to be the new leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) (since 1994 the formal name of the Unification Church[3]). Sun Myung Moon has not outlined any succession plan and has also placed some of his other children in church leadership positions.[4] In 2011 Hyung Jin Moon visited North Korea to express condolences on the death of Kim Jung-il.[5]

Hyung Jin Moon studied philosophy and theology in college, has practised Zen Buddhism, and for a time lived in a Catholic monastery.[6] Although the Unification Church has been a supporter of conservative Republican politicians, Hyung Jin Moon expressed support for newly elected President Barack Obama, saying, "I am very proud as an American to have a black president. I was born and raised in America. I am a part of a minority. To see a minority representative being the president of the United States of America is extremely inspiring. It's just miraculous."[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Latest News Pictures Reuters.com
  2. ^ Sons Rise in a Moon Shadow, Forbes, April 12, 2010
  3. ^ Introvigne, Massimo, 2000, The Unification Church Studies in Contemporary Religion, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, Utah, ISBN 1-56085-145-7, pages 47-52
  4. ^ Unification Church pres sees smaller mass weddings, Daily Monitor, 2008-12-30
  5. ^ Unification Church president on condolence visit to N. Korea, Yon Hap News, 2011-12-26.
  6. ^ Son of Moonies founder takes over as church leader, Justin McCurry, The Guardian, 26 April 2008
  7. ^ Unification Church pres sees smaller mass weddings, Daily Monitor, 2008-12-30, "The church has been a staunch supporter of conservative Republicans in the United States, but Moon is thrilled about the election of Democrat Barack Obama."

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