Moon, Sun Myung, 1920-, Korean religious leader. He was an engineering student and dock worker before founding (1954) the Unification Church with a doctrine loosely based on Christianity as interpreted by Moon, who has declared (2004) himself the "Messiah." Moon introduced the movement to the United States in the 1960s; its world headquarters are now in New York City. Moon has been accused of brainwashing converts and of various illegal activities; he was convicted (1982) of conspiracy to evade taxes.