In 2024, the Indo-Pacific region faced significant challenges, including climate disasters that resulted in thousands of casualties from typhoons and floods, marking it as Asia’s worst year. Fertility rates plummeted across East Asia, raising concerns about demographic shifts. Political events included elections in several countries, with mixed outcomes for democracy; notable incidents included South Korea’s martial law declaration. Despite challenges, South Korea’s cultural export surge gained momentum, highlighted by the success of K-dramas and the Nobel Prize win for author Han Kang. A viral hit, Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus, brought joy, ultimately being crowned the best moment in Asia for the year.
