The nation's top court ruled Thursday that cable news network YTN's dismissal of three journalists, including a former union president, in 2008, was legal.
  
YTN, a majority stake of which is owned by the government, penalized employees who led a 90-day sit-in in October 2008 to protest the broadcaster's newly appointed chief, Gu Bon-hong.  
   
YTN's nine unionized workers, including former union president and anchor Noh Jong-myeon, filed a lawsuit, claiming Gu's appointment was illegal and thus any punitive action against union members should be withdrawn.
   
Ending a six-year-long legal battle, the Supreme Court, upholding lower courts' rulings, on Thursday endorsed the 24-hour news network's decision to dismiss its three former employees and suspend three others.
  
The court, however, ruled that the company's decision to dismiss three others was excessive.
  
Gu, who participated in President Lee Myung-bak's election campaign, was appointed to the post in July 2008. The Lee government was criticized for replacing chiefs of major broadcasters with those supportive of his conservative administration. (Yonhap)