Seoul , South Korea ( CNN ) -- South Korea 's national police chief resigned Monday amid criticism over authorities ' handling of an emergency call from a woman who was later found murdered . Cho Hyun-oh , commissioner of the National Police Agency , issued an apology , acknowledging `` police incompetence and carelessness . '' A woman in her 20s called police the night of April 1 , saying she was being raped , according to authorities in the city of Suwon , south of Seoul . She gave police details as to her whereabouts , using a nearby school and playground as landmarks . Suwon police said the woman 's seven-minute phone call to authorities was tracked , but the police operator who took the call did not tell police at the scene the woman reported being inside a house . As a result , police only checked outside areas and did not search homes in the area . By the time authorities located the woman , she had been murdered . A man has been arrested in connection with her death . The woman 's body was found at the home of the murder suspect , according to South Korea 's Yonhap news agency . Cho also said he regrets attempts at a police cover-up . Authorities initially claimed they dispatched more officers to the scene than they actually had , and said the victim 's phone call lasted only seconds . Six family members of the victim met Monday with Cho and other police officials to protest police handling of the case , Yonhap reported . `` I pray for the victim 's soul , express my condolences to her family and ask for forgiveness , '' Cho told reporters in a press conference , Yonhap said . `` I blame myself deeply and express my heartfelt apology for the carelessness of the police and the horrendous results it led to , as well as for causing disappointment to the people through the police 's attempt to cover up ( the case ) and their lies . ''
Cho Ji - oh acknowledges he made an emergency call . The woman who called was later found dead . Cho believes police also tried to cover up their mistake .