Korea's bond market is racking up a series of firsts. This year has seen the country's first digital bond issued by a securities firm, followed by firsts from a private company, a public institution, and, most recently, a bank. The issuers — Mirae Asset Securities, POSCO International, Korea Housing Finance Corporation and KB Kookmin Bank — come from different sectors. Yet the deals have something in common: All were issued on Hong Kong's blockchain rails. "Hong Kong has been taking active steps to develop our digital bond ecosystem," a Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) spokesperson said. "Issuers from various jurisdictions, including Korea, have successfully issued digital bonds in Hong Kong." Mirae Asset Securities kicked off the run in January with a one-year multicurrency digital bond comprising $41.4 million and $30 million. POSCO International followed in April with a three-year $99.5 million deal, while Korea Housing Finance Corporation issued a two-year $200 million bond in May. KB Kookmin Bank joined in June with a two-year $100 million issuance. All four digital bonds wer