Home favourite MK Kim birdied the last to join China's Li Haotong at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Genesis Championship.
The South Korean enjoyed loud cheers as he calmly rolled in from five feet to reach six-under par after carding eight birdies and two bogeys.
Kim reached the turn in 32 following birdies at the first, third, fifth and eighth, and he continued that momentum with another at the 10th.
That left him one shot behind Li, who was flawless in his 65 to set the clubhouse target at six under at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
A bogey at the 12th saw the 24-year-old slip back, only to join the Chinese star at the summit with a pair of birdies from the 14th.
Another dropped shot at the 16th saw him return to five under before his nerveless putt at the par-five 18th.
"I’m really happy with today," Kim said. "I putted really well. My shots weren’t great, but I saved a lot and made a good score.
"The course is great. I’ve played here a lot of times, so I’m used to it. The greens are in really good condition, so I can putt well on them.
"They (the fans) are supporting me a lot and it really cheers me up. Three days left. I’ll try my best on each of those days."
English pair Laurie Canter and Joe Dean were among seven players in a tie for fourth at four-under par.
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