Hyung Jin Moon
Hyung Jin Moon | |
Hangul | 문형진 |
---|---|
Hanja | 文亨進 |
Revised Romanization | Mun Hyeong-jin |
McCune–Reischauer | Mun Hyŏngjin |
Hyung Jin Moon (born September 26, 1979)[1] is a South Korean pastor, alongside his wife, Yeon Ah Lee Moon, of the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary.
Early life and education
Moon was born in Tarrytown, New York, the youngest son of Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han Moon. He attended The Hackley School until college. He earned Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Master of Theology degrees from Harvard University.[2]
Career
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). Sun Myung Moon has not outlined any succession plan and has also placed some of his other children in church leadership positions.[3] In 2011 Hyung Jin Moon visited North Korea to express condolences on the death of Kim Jong-il.[4]
Hyung Jin Moon studied at Harvard and obtained an MA from Harvard Divinity School. "At the Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions, he met the leader of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the Venerable Bub Jang, and pursued an interest in Buddhism, which he has studied and practiced in earnest."[5] He also practiced Tibetan 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
- ↑ Staff report (1979). Transition Newsweek
- ↑ Sons Rise in a Moon Shadow, Forbes, April 12, 2010
- ↑ Unification Church pres sees smaller mass weddings, Daily Monitor, 2008-12-30
- ↑ Unification Church president on condolence visit to N. Korea, Yonhap News, 2011-12-26.
- ↑ Rev. Sun Myung Moon: His Family www.tparents.org 2014-05-20.
- ↑ Son of Moonies founder takes over as church leader, Justin McCurry, The Guardian, 26 April 2008
- ↑ Unification Church pres sees smaller mass weddings Daily Monitor, 2008-12-30