Mass wedding in South Korea attracts turnout of 30,000 despite coronavirus fears

About 6,000 new couples were getting married, while others were renewing their vows – some clad in masks that matched their gowns and suits

The mass weddings are a well-known feature of the Unification Church, founded in 1954 by a man who declared he and his wife were messiahs

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A couple wearing protective face masks attend a mass wedding ceremony in Gapyeong on February 7, 2020. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:00pm, 8 Feb 2020Updated: 9:51pm, 28 Feb 2020

Lee Kwon-seok was excited to join thousands of other couples in the latest mass wedding performed by South Korea’s Unification Church on Friday, but he and his bride weren’t taking any chances amid the coronavirus outbreak.

They brought their own surgical masks to wear – his black, to match his suit, and hers white, to match her dress.

“I’m very happy to attend this deeply blessed joint wedding,” said Lee, 35. “Since coronavirus is going around these days, I wore a mask to be careful.”

Couples celebrate in a mass wedding ceremony at the Cheong Shim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong on February 7, 2020. Photo: AP

About 30,000 people from around the world gathered at the Cheong Shim Peace World Centre in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, according to the church.

Among them were 6,000 new couples getting married, while the others were renewing vows or watching.

The mass weddings are a well-known feature of the South Korea-based church, but the spread of the new coronavirus, first reported in China, has cast a pall over many public events.