Chutong Zhang, left, leads Florence Brunelle, right, at the Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne ©Getty Images

South Korea had a memorable second day at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships with plenty of drama in the men's and women's individual finals, as they won three golds in Bormio in Italy.

Kim Tae-sung led a South Korean one-two in the men’s 1500m ahead of teammate Ahn Hyun-jun in what was originally an all-Korean podium.

This changed when original bronze medallist Lee Jeong-min was disqualified after a collision with Dutch skater Jens van T’ Wout giving the bronze to China’s Zhang Tianyi.

Recovering from his penalty, Lee came back in the men’s 500m to win gold, after sneaking through from third in the last corner where the fortunes turned for 1500m champion Kim.

Lee Jeong-min, right, at the Winter Youth Olympics, would take 500m gold in Bormio in Italy ©Twitter/@youtholympics
Lee Jeong-min, right, at the Winter Youth Olympics, would take 500m gold in Bormio in Italy ©Twitter/@youtholympics

Kim was given a yellow card for a clash with China’s Sun Long, losing his lead to finish the race in third.

Russia’s Vladimir Balbekov nearly collided with the South Korean as well but managed to take second, with Sun being upgraded to bronze.

In the women’s 1500m, pre-race favourite Kim Geon-hee of South Korea ensured double 1500m gold ahead of Canada and China as her teammates suffered heartbreak.

Kim tucked in through most of the race before moving through to the front with four laps to go while her teammate Kim Gil-li took herself out of the race after clashing with Kim Chan-seo who only finished fourth.

Canada’s Florence Brunelle and Li Xuan of China were involved throughout with the Canadian taking the silver ahead of the Chinese athlete.

The Netherlands’ Xandra Velzeboer was crowned women’s 500m champion leading from start to finish, denying Brunelle an upgrade on her silver in the 1500m.

The Canadian made it her second silver of the Championships and never looked like losing her position.

The closest battle was between Corrine Stoddard of the United States and Russia’s Sofia Boytsova for the bronze with the American taking a risk in the final lap to round off the podium.

Russia ensured a place in the final of the women’s 3000m relay after winning heat one, with Italy also comfortably going through.

The Netherlands will join them after winning heat two alongside South Korea who also made it to the A final.

In the men’s semi-finals, Russia and South Korea won their respective contests to book their places in the final with Japan also coming from heat one.

Despite being quicker than Japan, Hungary did not progress after losing out in a close finish with United States.

With just 0.047 seconds between them, United States would progress to the final after a photo finish.

The last day of the competition sees finals in the 1000m and 3000m relay.