Incoming police chief vowed Wednesday to restore people's trust in the law enforcement agency that has drawn fire for mishandling a kidnapping-and-murder case and over allegations of corruption.

Kim Ki-yong took office as commissioner of the National Police Agency (NPA) earlier in the day after President Lee Myung-bak tapped him to succeed Cho Hyun-oh, who resigned last month over revelations police mishandled an emergency call and left a woman to be killed by her kidnapper. The victim's mutilated body was found on April 2, about 13 hours after she called for help.

"The most urgent priority is to regain the trust of the people," Kim said in his inaugural speech at NPA headquarters in Seoul. "The police are currently in a crisis of trust and in a dangerous crisis of ethics, which no one can deny."

The 54-year-old Kim served as deputy police chief prior to the appointment.

In a widening corruption scandal, a dozen former and current police officers have been accused of taking bribes from a bar owner after leaking information on their crackdown plans.

Kim referred to both the murder and corruption cases, saying the police should take "fundamental action" to put an end to all forms of irregularities. (Yonhap)