Seoul - Controversial South Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon on Wednesday presided over a mass wedding involving 10,000 couples, the Unification Church said.

The couples from South Korea and abroad were either marrying or renewing their vows.

The Unification Church matched most of the couples using photos and biographical data.

The ceremony took place in the grounds of the Unification Church's Sun-Moon University in the city of Asan south of Seoul.

Members of the church around the world were able to watch the ceremony live on the internet.

It was the largest mass wedding staged by the Moonies in years.

Moon founded the group in 1954 and describes himself as the messiah. (dpa)