Police investigate the scene near City Hall Station in Seoul's Jung District, where deadly car crash happened that claimed nine lives, July 1, 2024. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Prosecutors on Wednesday sought a seven years and six months of prison term for a man who killed nine people after ramming his car into pedestrians near Seoul City Hall.

In July last year, the 69-year-old driver, surnamed Cha, pulled his car out of a hotel parking lot and darted into a nearby one-way road in the reverse direction before plowing through a sidewalk guardrail and striking pedestrians.

Prosecutors requested the sentence during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, saying the driver continues to deny any wrongdoing and has shown a "bad attitude."

Cha has claimed the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control but prosecutors accuse him of poorly handling the gas pedal.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12. (Yonhap)