Belgian Ambassador Speaks Out After a Week: "Wife's Behavior Is Unacceptable"... Official Apology

Embassy: "Wife undergoing treatment for stroke... Police investigation not possible"

The wife of the Belgian ambassador to Korea, who slapped the cheek of a clothing store employee, was caught trying on white pants while wearing shoes inside the store. Despite the white pants being easily stained, she showed no concern. Netizens criticized her, calling it "an inexplicable and absurd manner." Photo by clothing store CCTV.

The Embassy of Belgium in Korea has issued an official apology regarding the ambassador's wife assaulting a Korean citizen. Photo by Embassy of Belgium in Korea Facebook capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] After the wife of Peter Lescouhier, the Belgian ambassador to Korea, assaulted a Korean citizen and became the subject of a police investigation, the Belgian Embassy issued a belated official apology.

On the 22nd, the Belgian Embassy in Korea posted on its website and Facebook, "We deeply regret the incident involving (Ambassador Peter Lescouhier's) wife that occurred on the 9th, and on her behalf, we apologize to the victim," adding, "Her actions are unacceptable under any circumstances."

They continued, "The Belgian ambassador to Korea was informed by the police on the day his wife was hospitalized that an investigation into this incident was underway," and "Since the investigation is ongoing, the ambassador will not give any interviews regarding this matter." This apology came a week after the police investigation became public.

The embassy stated, "The ambassador confirms that his wife will undergo police questioning as soon as possible," but also noted, "However, she has been hospitalized for a stroke since last week and is currently unable to participate in the police investigation," adding, "We hope the ambassador's wife recovers her health quickly and cooperates with the police investigation so that this unfortunate matter can be resolved."

Earlier, on the 9th, at a clothing store in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the ambassador's wife, Suechiou Xiang, tried on clothes but left without purchasing anything. However, since the clothes she was wearing were also sold at the store, a misunderstanding arose when a staff member asked whether she had bought the clothes she was wearing, leading to a conflict.

After confirming that the clothes worn by the Belgian ambassador's wife were not store products, the staff member apologized and returned to the store, but Xiang came back and grabbed the staff member's shoulder, leading to a scuffle.

The situation escalated to assault, during which the victim who tried to intervene was slapped by the ambassador's wife, resulting in swelling on the left cheek and bloodshot veins in the left eye. The victim has reportedly not yet received an apology.

The police are investigating the incident according to procedure, but Xiang is protected by diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and is not subject to criminal prosecution. Diplomats and their families dispatched to foreign countries have immunity from arrest and detention.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Lescouhier was appointed to Korea in 2018. He is known as a China expert who majored in Chinese history and Oriental philosophy. Xiang, who arrived in Korea in June of the same year, graduated from a prestigious Chinese university, worked in the European Union (EU) environmental department under the United Nations in Belgium, and is known to have practiced Taijiquan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.