Seoul: The national speed skating team will be split into two groups in the late stages of their preparation for the Winter Olympics, with some skaters participating in an international event prior to the big competition and others staying home to train.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Min-sun, a medal hopeful in the women's 500 meters, and Kim Jun-ho, the national record holder in the men's 500m, will compete in the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup event in Inzell, Germany, starting next Friday. They are scheduled to depart for Germany on Sunday and then travel to Italy for the Winter Olympics, set to open February 6.

Among others, Lee Na-hyun, a rising star in the women's 500m, will stay in South Korea to continue prepping for her Olympic debut. She will be joined by a pair of mass start medal contenders, Chung Jae-won on the men's side and Park Ji-woo in the women's competition.

With the Olympic quota spots already distributed after four World Cup races, the fifth World Cup of the season in Inzell will be without some of the top skaters. Still, Kim Min-sun and Kim Jun-ho chose to make the trip to get some competitive races under their belts before the Olympics. Both are chasing their first Olympic medals, with Kim Min-sun competing in her third Winter Games and Kim Jun-ho in for his fourth.

Chung and Park are trying to keep things close to the vest. The mass start requires race strategies -- some skaters may choose to conserve energy early and kick into a higher gear later, while others may choose to jump out early and try to stay in front -- and it may serve them well not to reveal too much this close to the Olympics.

Those training at home will travel to Italy on January 30. South Korea won two silver medals and two bronze medals in speed skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- the first time since 2006 that the country failed to grab a gold in the sport.