On Oct. 27, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office sought the capital punishment for 69-year-old Lee Joon-seok on charges of leading more than 300 people,
mostly school children, to death as he did nothing to rescue the passengers while the ill-fated ship capsized and sank off the southwestern coast on April 16.
Prosecutors also asked a district court in the southern city of Gwangju to sentence three crew members - the first mate, the second mate and chief engineer - to life in prison.
Prison terms from 15 years to 30 years were sought against 11 other crew members, including the third mate and helmsman.
By Ruchi Singh