More than 300 people were killed after the Sewol ferry sank in South Korea earlier this year.

Prosecutors in South Korea reportedly requested that the captain of the sunken ferry and three other key crew members get life sentences during a trial at the Gwangju District Court, stated a court official on condition of anonymity, according to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors reportedly asked for sentences of up to 30 years for 11 other crew members. Captain Lee Joon-seok and the three other crew members were reportedly indicted in May on homicide charges while the other 11 crew members were indicted on less serious charges.

"The captain made no rescue efforts after issuing a broadcast asking passengers to stay in their cabins. He didn't organize any rescue operations after leaving the ship," Yonhap news agency quoted prosecutors as saying during the trial on Monday.

The death penalty is reportedly rare in South Korea, which hasn't carried out executions in 17 years, according to CNN.

Lee has reportedly apologized for abandoning passengers, but said he didn't know his action would lead to the mass deaths of those on the ferry, most of whom were high school students, according to USA Today. Video footage taken of Lee escaping the sinking ferry in his underwear has caused further public outrage.

The court reportedly stated it couldn't immediately confirm the report that prosecutors want the captain to be sentenced to death.

The Sewol ferry tragedy was reportedly one of South Korea's deadliest disasters in decades. More than six months have passed since the sinking of the ferry and 294 bodies have reportedly been recovered while 10 others have not been found.