The task of scholars engaged in Asian studies is to examine whether, and to what extent, various recurring phenomena across Asia are changing, consider how these changes may affect the region and the world, and explore rational ways of survival and coexistence.

2025–2026 Asia’s Pulse is a collection of articles from Asia Brief and Diverse+Asia, published by the Seoul National University Asia Center (SNUAC), that reviews developments in 2025 and offers an outlook for 2026. Researchers and experts specializing in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia examine major issues across a wide range of fields, including economics and industry, politics and international relations, social issues, civic movements, and popular culture. By concisely presenting the background and significance of key developments, the volume offers a multifaceted perspective on change and continuity in Asia, drawing on insights from across the region.

The volume brings together articles addressing pressing contemporary issues and those examining long-term structural transformations. It covers a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from geopolitical competition and global supply chains, South Korea’s diplomatic strategies, democracy and institutional reform, conflicts and humanitarian crises, to environmental issues and climate change, industrial transformation and economic developments, and the ways artificial intelligence is reshaping knowledge and industry. By identifying emerging signs of crisis and broader currents of change across Asia, the volume offers perspectives essential to understanding the challenges of the present and envisioning a shared future.