It will be the fifth marriage for Schröder (73), whose new bride is 25 years younger.

The two met at an international management conference two years ago. Since then, Kim has served as Schröder's interpreter several times and proofed the Korean translation of his memoirs, which he was promoting here last week.

Their relationship stirred up plenty of gossip for the tabloids, with Schröder's estranged wife, Doris Schröder-Köpf, saying on Facebook it was the "final straw, if not the only reason, for our final separation" in 2016.

