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| Belgian ambassador to South Korea apologises after wife slaps shop worker | Belgian ambassador to South Korea apologises after wife slaps shop worker |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Xiang Xueqiu appeared to push and slap the shop worker | Xiang Xueqiu appeared to push and slap the shop worker |
| Belgium's ambassador to South Korea has apologised for his wife's "unacceptable" reaction to a confrontation with shop staff in Seoul. | Belgium's ambassador to South Korea has apologised for his wife's "unacceptable" reaction to a confrontation with shop staff in Seoul. |
| CCTV footage made public shows Peter Lescouhier's wife, Xiang Xueqiu, slapping a shop assistant. | CCTV footage made public shows Peter Lescouhier's wife, Xiang Xueqiu, slapping a shop assistant. |
| Staff had wanted to check the clothes she was leaving in were her own amid concern she may have been shoplifting. | Staff had wanted to check the clothes she was leaving in were her own amid concern she may have been shoplifting. |
| The Belgian Embassy in Seoul says Ms Xiang, 63, is currently in hospital recovering from a stroke. | The Belgian Embassy in Seoul says Ms Xiang, 63, is currently in hospital recovering from a stroke. |
| She will co-operate with a police investigation into the incident as soon as she is able, the statement added. | She will co-operate with a police investigation into the incident as soon as she is able, the statement added. |
| The incident took place on 9 April at a clothing store in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. | The incident took place on 9 April at a clothing store in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. |
| Ms Xiang was in the store, trying on clothes for about an hour before she left, South Korean media report. | |
| She was followed out of the shop by one of the staff who wanted to check the clothes she wore - originally from the store - were Ms Xiang's own. | She was followed out of the shop by one of the staff who wanted to check the clothes she wore - originally from the store - were Ms Xiang's own. |
| The ambassador's wife is then reported to have followed the employee back into the shop and, in a confrontation caught on CCTV, appeared to push and slapped another staff member who tried to intervene. | The ambassador's wife is then reported to have followed the employee back into the shop and, in a confrontation caught on CCTV, appeared to push and slapped another staff member who tried to intervene. |
| The shop worker said she had a swollen cheek after being slapped | The shop worker said she had a swollen cheek after being slapped |
| "I didn't know who the woman was when I was assaulted, but she looked confident and didn't seem to be sorry," said the second employee, who complained of a swollen check from the slap, was quoted by South Korean media as saying. | "I didn't know who the woman was when I was assaulted, but she looked confident and didn't seem to be sorry," said the second employee, who complained of a swollen check from the slap, was quoted by South Korean media as saying. |
| The embassy statement said Mr Lescouhier "sincerely regrets the incident" and "wants to apologise" on his wife's behalf. | The embassy statement said Mr Lescouhier "sincerely regrets the incident" and "wants to apologise" on his wife's behalf. |
| "No matter the circumstances, the way she reacted is unacceptable," it added. | "No matter the circumstances, the way she reacted is unacceptable," it added. |
| Ms Xiang had been "unable to respond to the police invitation right now as she is under medical care following a stroke she suffered in the beginning of last week. | Ms Xiang had been "unable to respond to the police invitation right now as she is under medical care following a stroke she suffered in the beginning of last week. |
| "We hope her health will improve quickly, so she will soon be able to assist with the police investigation, so we can all put this regrettable incident behind us." | "We hope her health will improve quickly, so she will soon be able to assist with the police investigation, so we can all put this regrettable incident behind us." |
| The case has provoked anger in South Korea amid claims Ms Xiang would be able to claim diplomatic immunity in order to avoid a prosecution. | The case has provoked anger in South Korea amid claims Ms Xiang would be able to claim diplomatic immunity in order to avoid a prosecution. |