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In this 2005 file photo, Unification Church leader
Rev. Sun Myung Moon speaks during his "Now is God's Time" rally in New
York. (AP Photo/John Marshall Mantel)
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The Korean
religious leader who founded the Unification Church died in South Korea at the age
of 92.
The
Reverend Sun Myung Moon died at a hospital the church owns near his home in
Gapyeong. He was hospitalized with pneumonia last month, and his
condition grew worse late last week.
Moon also
built a business empire that included newspapers, schools, a ski resort and
dozens of other ventures in several countries, including a peace institute,
carmaker and, in North Korea, a hotel.
Here in
Kodiak where Reverend Moon has a large following, the Unification Church owns
International Seafoods and several fishing boats. On Sunday, fleet manager Tom
Parsons told the Anchorage Daily News that many plant employees were at the
Unification Church for services related to Moon's death.
He said the
president of International Seafoods went to South Korea when the seriousness of
Moon's illness became apparent.
Parsons
said Moon loved to sportsfish and used to visit Kodiak several times a year. In
June he'd come to fish for kings, and he'd come back in August and September to
angle for coho.
Parsons
said the reason International Seafoods was located here was because Moon liked
Kodiak so much.
According
to its website, the Unification Church of Kodiak hosts an annual program for
teens inspired by Moon's belief that leaders can be developed from training in
maritime skills and fishing.
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