Police chief Cho Hyun-oh offered to step down Monday, days after police drew fire for responding poorly to a rape victim's emergency phone call, leaving her to be killed by her rapist.

Cho, commissioner of the National Police Agency (NPA), issued an apology at his office in Seoul, saying he will take responsibility for the tragic incident.

"I express my condolences to the victim's family and ask for forgiveness," he said. "I blame myself for the carelessness of the police and the horrendous results it led to. I also express my heartfelt apology for causing disappointment to the people through the police's attempt to cover up (the case) and their lies."

President Lee Myung-bak plans to accept the resignation, an aide said.

"I think President Lee is going to accept the resignation," the official said on condition of anonymity. "However, the timing of his departure will be decided after" Wednesday's general elections.

The body of the 28-year-old victim, whose name was withheld, was found in Suwon, south of Seoul, late in the morning of April 2, about 13 hours after she called the police for help. A recording of the phone call revealed that she reported the exact location where she was being raped.

Police have arrested a 42-year-old Korean-Chinese man, surnamed Woo, as a suspect in the case. (Yonhap News)