AP
September 5, 2012
Workers prepare for a funeral for Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea. Wednesday, Sept 5, 2012. Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who founded the church, died Monday at a church-owned hospital near his home in Gapyeong County, northeast of Seoul, church officials said. He was 92. Photo: Hye Soo Nah / AP
GAPYEONG, South Korea (AP) — Unification Church officials say they are expecting tens of thousands of mourners for the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at their sprawling campus northeast of Seoul.
The church will officially welcome mourners Thursday for the self-proclaimed messiah at a massive sports and cultural center in Gapyeong County.
Workers Wednesday were busy building a huge stage and installing red carpets and hundreds of flowers.
Workers place flowers on a wall bearing the Unification church's logo inside the Cheongshim Peace World Center during preparations for a funeral for Rev. Sun Myung Moon in Gapyeong, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who founded the church, died Monday at a church-owned hospital near his home in Gapyeong County, northeast of Seoul, church officials said. He was 92. Photo: Hye Soo Nah / AP
Moon died Monday at age 92. His funeral is Sept. 15.
North Korean state media said Wednesday that leader Kim Jong Un has offered condolences to the Unification Church founder's family.
Moon met with Kim Jong Un's grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, during a 1991 visit to the North.
North Korea made no mention of whether it will send mourners to Moon's funeral.