Kim Ki-yong

By Kim Rahn

National Policy Agency (NPA) Deputy Commissioner General Kim Ki-yong was tapped to succeed Cho Hyun-oh, who has resigned over a fumbling probe into a murder case.

Kim, 55, was recommended for the top police position through a committee in a meeting, Monday.

Kim has held various positions such as head of Yongsan Police Station, deputy chief of North Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, security director at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and as a director general at the NPA. He was promoted to the deputy commissioner general in January.

“I feel pressure to take the important position during these challenging times,” he told reporters.

Cho, who announced his resignation last week to take responsibility for police officers mishandling of a Chinese-Korean man’s gruesome murder of a woman in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, April 1.

“Public trust in the police has plummeted since the murder case. I’ll try to regain our reputation promptly.”

The National Assembly will hold a hearing to review Kim’s qualifications. Public Administration and Security Minister Maeng Hyung-kyu will make a recommendation to President Lee Myung-bak for the appointment.