Action began today at the ISU Short Track World Cup event in Minsk ©Skating Canada

South Korea enjoyed a superb opening day of competition at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Cup in Minsk.

It comes as skaters seek a final opportunity to claim points in order to reach the summit of the seasonal ranking lists.

Lim Yong-jin was the individual star of the day as he led the semi-final standings in the men's 1,500 metres with a time of 2min 15.740sec.

He then clocked a leading 1:26.119 in the quarter-finals of the 1,000m competition.

The 2018 Winter Olympic hosts were also among four heat winners in the men's 5,000m relay.

Russia, The Netherlands and Belgium also progressed in first place.

The event in Minsk is the final leg of the ISU Short Track World Cup season ©Getty Images
The event in Minsk is the final leg of the ISU Short Track World Cup season ©Getty Images

Kim Ye-jin completed the women's 1,000m in 1:32.161 to register the joint quickest quarter-final time with Cynthia Mascitto of Italy.

Compatriot Noh Ah-rum was fastest over 1,500m with a time of 2:28.349.

Several leading athletes have decided not to compete in Minsk, however, with the World Short Track Championships in Rotterdam looming next month.

Some of these could consequently lose their respective World Cup leads.

This includes Marianne St-Gelais of Canada in the women’s 500 metres as well as Dajing Wu of China in the corresponding men's event.

All finals in the Belarus capital are scheduled for the next two days.