1. Public Officer (Judge) at Gwangju District Court, Hahn Ji-hyung, preparing for interview
2. Close of Hahn getting ready to answer questions from South Korean journalists
3. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Hahn Ji-hyung, Public Officer (Judge) at Gwangju District Court:
"In order for the murder by omission charge to be admitted there has to be a proof that there was wilful negligence. However, the verdict states that the evidence that has been submitted is not enough to prove wilful negligence."
4. Wide of Hahn being interviewed
5. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Hahn Ji-hyung, Public Officer at Gwangju District Court:
"In the situation, in which the defendants were found not guilty of the murder charge, they were found guilty of causing death by negligence, breach of professional duty and violation of marine environment preservation. At the moment the combined maximum sentence for the three charges is 36 years. In the case of Captain Lee Joon-seok (of Sewol Ferry), after consideration of several points, (the judge) handed down the maximum penalty of 36 years."
The captain of a ferry that sank earlier this year, leaving more than 300 people dead and shocking South Korea, was given a 36-year prison sentence on Tuesday for negligence and abandoning his passengers.
The Gwangju District Court in southern South Korea acquitted Captain Lee Joon-seok of a homicide charge because it was difficult to believe that he knew his actions would cause such a huge number of deaths, according to a court statement.
After the sentencing, the Public Officer at Gwangju District Court Hahn Ji-hyung explained to journalists that in order for a murder charge to be admitted there would have to be proof of wilful negligence.
But it had been shown that Lee had issued an evacuation order as the vessel sank.
The widely vilified Lee could have received a death sentence for the homicide charge.
South Korea hasn't executed anyone since late 1997, though its courts occasionally issue the punishment.
Lee has apologised for abandoning the passengers, but said he didn't know his actions would lead to so many deaths.
The court sentenced the ship's chief engineer to 30 years in prison and 13 others to up to 20 years in prison, the court statement said.
The highly anticipated verdict came amid continuing grief and finger-pointing over one of the worst disasters in South Korean history.
