Belgian Ambassador to Korea Returns This Month... Wife Involved in Another 'Assault' Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] Peter Lescouhier, the Belgian ambassador to Korea, will soon return to his home country. This is a consequence of the social controversy caused by his wife's assault on a clothing store employee.

According to diplomatic circles on the 6th, Ambassador Lescouhier is expected to return as early as next weekend. Earlier, the Belgian Embassy in Korea issued a statement in May saying, "The Belgian Foreign Minister judged that ending Ambassador Lescouhier's term this summer would be most beneficial for the bilateral relations."

Mrs. Suechiu Xiang, the wife of Ambassador Lescouhier, was involved in an assault incident with a clothing store employee, and the day before, she reportedly got into a dispute and mutual assault with sanitation worker Mr. A. However, since Mrs. Xiang and Mr. A did not wish to press charges against each other, the case was not prosecuted and was closed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while embarrassed by Mrs. Xiang's repeated involvement in assault incidents, reportedly contacted the police and others to understand the situation. Ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam stated at the regular briefing that day, "We have a policy to strictly deal with any illegal acts under any circumstances."