A court has acquitted the Coast Guard leadership at the time of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster of charges of negligence. 

The Seoul Central District Court on Monday handed the "not guilty" verdict to former Coast Guard chief Kim Suk-kyoon and nine other former and incumbent senior Coast Guard officials, judging it was difficult for the accused to perceive imminent risks with the information they had at the time. 

They were indicted in February of last year for failing to order the ferry's abandonment at the time of sinking, resulting in the death of 303 passengers.

Prosecutors have argued the officers should have grasped the urgency of the situation and immediately ordered the rescue of as many passengers as possible.

The prosecution has said it will appeal the court ruling.