Washington Post closes Seoul hub, lays off 300 

The Washington Post has carried out one of the most sweeping rounds of layoffs in its recent history, with multiple reports and staff statements indicating that roughly 300 employees have been impacted across departments, including significant reductions to its international reporting operations.

The scale of the cuts became publicly visible through a series of posts on X by current and former Post journalists, many of whom described the day as devastating for the newsroom and for the institution’s global coverage.

Among the most striking developments was the closure of the Post’s Seoul hub in South Korea, confirmed in a personal post by Hari Raj, the outgoing Seoul bureau editor, on X. Raj wrote that the office was closed on the same day as the broader layoffs, expressing affection for his team and the work they did. Many colleagues across desks have echoed grief and disbelief at the scale of the cuts.

https://x.com/jarirah/status/2019280198328545320?s=48

Ishaan Tharoor, a Global Affairs columnist at The Washington Post and the son of Indian politician Shashi Tharoor, said he had been laid off along with most of the International staff. In a post on X, Tharoor wrote that he was “heartbroken” for the newsroom and particularly for the journalists who served the paper internationally.

https://x.com/ishaantharoor/status/2019085243228053795?s=46

Tharoor also reflected on the WorldView column, which he launched in January 2017. The columnist said the column was created to help readers better understand global affairs and America’s place in the world, adding that he remained grateful to the half a million subscribers who followed it over the years.

Ruslan Trad, a journalist and analyst, also weighed in on X, describing the cuts as a blow to international journalism. Trad claimed the Post’s management fired 300 people, including some of its best international correspondents, while shutting offices in key locations globally.

“The management of @washingtonpost fired 300 people, including its best international correspondents, closing offices in key locations around the world. Some of the best writers, some of whom I know and have worked with, have been dismissed because of business interests and political maneuvering. Unacceptable a few years ago—normal today. We will probably see more news like this,” Trad wrote.

https://x.com/ruslantrad/status/2019185112584212640?s=48

While The Washington Post has not issued a detailed public breakdown of which desks and bureaus were most affected, international media reports said the layoffs were deep enough to trigger internal protest and moral distress among senior editorial leadership.

According to these reports, the cuts were so severe that at least one department head asked to leave the paper rather than be included in the planning. Peter Finn, The Post’s international editor, reportedly requested to be laid off once he learned about the scope of the reductions to his section.

The development marks a significant contraction of the Post’s international footprint at a time when many legacy newsrooms are struggling with declining digital advertising revenues, subscription volatility, and shifting consumption patterns.

For The Washington Post, the decision to close its Seoul hub and reduce international staff has also sparked wider concerns within media circles about the future of robust foreign reporting in American journalism, particularly from legacy institutions that once maintained expansive global bureau networks.

Pranshu Verma, who served as The Washington Post’s New Delhi bureau chief, also confirmed he was among those laid off. In a post on X, Verma wrote that he was heartbroken by the decision and called it a privilege to have worked at the paper over the last four years.

“Heartbroken to share I’ve been laid off from The Washington Post. Gutted for so many of my talented friends who are also gone. It was a privilege to work here the past four years. Serving as the paper’s New Delhi bureau chief was an honor,” Verma wrote.

https://x.com/pranshuverma_/status/2019076504081027112?s=46