Rev. Moon Injured In Helicopter Crash

A helicopter carrying the Rev. Sun Myung Moon crashed Saturday into a mountain in South Korea, injuring the founder of the Unification Church and 13 others, officials said.

Moon was slightly injured but his exact condition was not known, fire official Kim Wu-jong told The Associated Press. Members of Moon's family, including his wife, were also hurt.

One person was seriously injured, Kim said.

The helicopter was carrying 16 people when it crashed in Gapyeong, about 37 miles northeast of Seoul, Kim said. It burst into flames after hitting the ground.

Police and fire officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

Church official Kim Dae-yeol said the helicopter was flying to a church-affiliated hospital in the area.

Moon founded the Seoul-based Unification Church in the 1950s and the conservative Washington Times newspaper in 1982.

The church's doctrine is a mixture of Christian, Confucian and traditional Korean values, and Moon's followers believe he came into the world to complete the work of Jesus Christ.

In February, a South Korean army helicopter crashed into a mountain near Seoul, killing all seven people on board. Last year, three helicopters and two fighter jets crashed in South Korea.