It’s not a novelty flavor of the day kind of thing that kim chee is available at the players’ lunch buffet here at the LPGA Lotte Championship at Ko Olina Golf Club. It’s a staple for a large portion of the field.

Players of South Korean nationality or descent dominated the leaderboard at the conclusion of Wednesday’s first round. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.

But today it’s a bit more interesting because of this: Right at the top, at 4 under with two of her countrywomen — or maybe we should say countrygirls — is the grande dame who blazed the trail.

Se Ri Pak is only 36 and doesn’t look or play like she’s old. But it seems she’s been around forever. I mean, she’s been in the World Golf Hall of Fame since 2007 — when some of the players she’s competing with were in elementary school.

When asked about six of the top nine on the leaderboard hailing from Korea, Pak talked more about the excitement of the tour’s overall international youth movement.

Hyo Joo Kim, tied for the lead with Pak, is 18. The aptly-named So Young Lee, tied for fifth, is 16.

American Lexi Thompson, who won the Kraft Nabisco two weeks ago, is 19.

"Just things change in the LPGA now," Pak said. "I mean, not only Korean, not only Asian, but I think more from international, and the age is going a lot more younger, and they are in better shape and they play well."

Michelle Wie fired a solid 2 under. Tied for fifth, she is in position to contend headed into the weekend. It could be against her childhood idol.

"I looked up to her growing up," said Wie, born in Honolulu and of Korean descent. "She was definitely the role model. I just wanted to be like her. She was so cool and she still is very cool."

Lydia Ko, another 16-year-old, was born the year before Pak’s rookie year on the LPGA Tour, 1998, when she won two majors.

"She played in the first ever round I watched. It’s pretty exciting playing in the same tournaments as her," Ko said of Pak. "And Michelle has always been my idol. A great person and a very nice person."

Ko’s family moved to New Zealand right around that time, 10 years ago, when she saw Pak that first time.

John and Kate Pope of Waikanae, New Zealand, happened to be here on vacation when they learned Ko would be playing and hustled over to Ko Olina. They said she’s quickly becoming a national sports hero.

"It’s really great getting support from both countries," said Ko, who at 15 became the youngest ever player to win an LPGA event.

Ko is four shots back. She has her work cut out for her this week to nab her third LPGA Tour win, but she will likely be a force for a long time, under any flag.

"It is really fun to watch her," said Pak, who played with Ko two years ago. "(For) her age she knew what was going on. … It really surprised me how good she is at her age."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. Read his blog at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.