The ruling Saenuri Party is considering nominating the heroic captain of a South Korean freighter hijacked by Somali pirates and rescued in a 2011 operation as one of its proportional representative candidates in April's general elections, party officials said on Sunday.

Seok Hae-kyun, who led the crew aboard the 11,500-ton Samho Jewelry, was shot several times by Somali pirates during the rescue in January last year but has recovered after several rounds of surgery.

The 59-year-old was released from a local hospital in November after more than nine months of treatment for gunshot wounds and now serves as a naval drill instructor in the southern region.

Seok has been credited with ensuring a successful rescue that killed eight pirates and captured five others. He was awarded a state order called the Dongbaek Medal of the Order of Civil Merit in October.

"The party's emergency council has selected Captain Seok as one of the strong candidates for a proportional representative slot and is seeking ways to nominate him," a party official said, asking anonymity because the process is currently under way.

Seok said he is carefully pondering the offer, considering whether his decision "could help other professionals in the field."

South Korea's unicameral parliament introduced the proportional system in 2004 with the aim of encouraging candidates with diverse backgrounds to support people.

There are 54 proportional slots in the 299-member parliament.

In December, South Korea's top court confirmed a life sentence for a Somali pirate for hijacking the Samho Jewelry and attempting to kill Seok. Four other pirates received sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years.