Thousands of couples -- some in facemasks -- tied the knot in a mass Unification Church wedding on Friday, despite concerns in South Korea over the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
The church founded by Sun Myung Moon -- revered as a messiah by his followers -- distributed face coverings to the 30,000 crowd, but only some donned them.
"I am overwhelmed that I am getting married today," said Choi Ji-young, who met her husband -- matched by the church -- only two months ago.
"It would be a lie if I said I was not concerned at all about the infection," said the 21-year-old university student. "But I feel like I will be protected from the virus today."
"By marrying a fellow church believer, I am taking a path paved by our church leaders."