Notable members and supporters of the Unification Church, founded by Sun Myung Moon, are as follows:
Moon family
The family of Reverend Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012), founder and leader of the Unification Church, and his wife Hak Ja Han are known as the "True Family". Moon and Han are known as "True Father" and "True Mother" within the movement, and collectively as "True Parents". They were married in 1960.[1] Their children are known as the "True Children":
- Hyo Jin Moon, also known as Steve Moon (1960–2008) – Moon and Han's first son, who died of a heart attack in 2008.[2] He was a musician and a recording facility executive. He was born in South Korea and grew up in the United States in New York State.[3]
- Heung Jin Moon (1966–1984) – Moon and Han's second son, died in auto accident, believed by members to be leading workshops in the afterlife in which spirits of deceased persons are taught Unification movement teachings.[4]
- In Jin Moon – Moon and Han's second daughter and president of the Unification Church of the United States from 2008 to 2012.[6][7][8]
- Kook Jin "Justin" Moon – Moon and Han's fourth son. Businessman and firearms designer. Owns and operates Kahr Arms, a U.S. small arms manufacturer,[9] former chairman of Tongil Group, a South Korean chaebol associated with the Unification Church.[10][11]
- Hyun Jin "Preston" Moon (born 25 May 1969) – Moon and Han's son, a social entrepreneur, and the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation and the Family Peace Association.[12]
- Sun Jin Moon – Moon and Han's daughter, appointed by Han as international president of the Unification Church in March 2015.[13]
- Un Jin Moon (born 1969) – Moon and Han's daughter. She left the church and divorced her husband, who by had been picked for her by her parents.[14]
- Young Jin "Phillip" Moon (1978–1999) – Moon and Han's second-youngest son who committed suicide in 1999, throwing himself from a casino window.[2]
- Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon (born 1979) – Moon and Han's youngest son and former international president of the Unification Church.[15] He has since founded a Pennsylvania-based, unofficial militant offshoot, World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, also known as "Rod of Iron" Ministries[16]
Supporters of the Unification Church
These are some people well-known for their support of the Unification Church.
- Shinzo Abe (1954–2022), Prime Minister of Japan (2006 - 2007 and 2012 - 2020.) His public support of the Japanese Unification Church is cited as the main reason that in 2022 he was assassinated by Tetsuya Yamagami, a shūkyō nisei whose mother is a member of the Unification Church.[43]
- Ralph Abernathy, minister, civil rights leader, served as vice president of the Unification Church-affiliated group American Freedom Coalition,[44][45] and served on two Unification movement boards of directors.[46]
- Neil Bush, businessman, son of 41st President George H. W. Bush and brother of 43rd President George W. Bush, promoted Moon and the Unification Church at events in Asia-Pacific and the United States.[47][48]
- Manu Chandaria, Kenyan businessman, is a member of the Global Leadership Council and the patron and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation in Africa.[49]
- Danny K. Davis, United States congressman co-sponsored a 2004 ceremony in which Moon was crowned the "King of Peace."[50]
- Louis Farrakhan, the leader of The Nation of Islam, an African American Islamic organization, served as a "co-officiator" at a Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church.[51] In 2000 the Unification movement co-sponsored the Million Family March, a rally in Washington D.C. to celebrate family unity and racial and religious harmony, along with the Nation of Islam. Farrakhan was the main speaker at the event.[52]
- Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the US House who spoke at events held by Unification Church-affiliated organizations and wrote opinion pieces for The Washington Times which is owned by the Unification Church.[53]
- Morton Kaplan, author and University of Chicago professor of political science. Editor of Unification Church owned The World & I magazine and organizer of movement sponsored conferences.[54]
- Kim Chong Pil (1926–2018), South Korean politician and founder of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), supported the Unification Church's political activism in the United States.[55]
- Nobusuke Kishi (1896–1987), Japanese politician and Prime Minister and grandfather of Shinzo Abe. He was longstanding supporter the Japanese Unification Church, which his postwar political agenda led him to help set up in 1963.[56]
- Douglas MacArthur II, American diplomat. Chairman of the World Media Association and member of the editorial advisory board of the Washington Times.[54]
- Emmanuel Milingo, now excommunicated Roman Catholic archbishop, married by Moon in 2001 to Unification Church member and supporter of Unification Church projects.[57][58]
- Richard L. Rubenstein, author and educator. Appointed by Moon as president of the University of Bridgeport.[59]
- Ryoichi Sasakawa, Japanese businessman and philanthropist. Supported Moon’s anti-communist work in Asia.[60][61]
- Ninian Smart (1927–2001), Scottish author and professor at University of Lancaster and University of California at Santa Barbara. President of the American Academy of Religion. Supported the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace, the International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences and other Unification Church affiliated projects.[62]
- George Augustus Stallings, Jr., former Roman Catholic priest. Organized Washington, D.C. coronation of Moon. Married by Moon.[50]
- Peter Tapsell, former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. In 2006, he sponsored the Unification Church organization Universal Peace Federation in New Zealand and spoke at a rally with Mrs. Moon.[63]
- Donald Trump, real estate investor and President of the United States (2017–2021) gave speeches at the event hosted by an affiliate of the Unification Church supporting Han's leadership and calling for Korean reunification.[64][65][66][67]
Researchers and Opponents of the Unification Church
These are the organizations and people well-known for their opposition to the Unification Church and/or their malpractices. Also people who are known for their research on the organization.