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Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon and floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon at an emergency economic council meeting at the Blue House on Sept. 10. (Yonhap News)

The ruling Democratic Party is facing an emergency as souring public opinion over allegations of preferential treatment in the mandatory military service of Justice Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s son -- identified by the surname Seo -- is being reflected in opinion poll numbers. Observers are concerned that without any clear explanations regarding the allegations, the alienation of the public could intensify over the course of future government questioning sessions, the Chuseok holiday, and a parliamentary audit.

On Sept. 7-9, the polling organization Real Meter conducted a survey of 1,504 South Korean adults nationwide (confidence level 95%, margin of error ±2.5 percentage points) at the request of the TBS network. The results showed support for the Democratic Party down 4.1 percentage points from the week before to 33.7%, with the opposition People Power Party (PPP) gaining 1.8 percentage points to reach 32.8%. At 0.9 percentage points, the gap in the two parties’ support ratings narrowed to within the margin of error for the first time in four weeks.

The dive in support for the Democratic Party was driven chiefly by male respondents (29.9%, down 8.9 percentage points), students (20.9, down 6.5 percentage points), and respondents in their 50s (29.0%, down 11.1 percentage points). The results suggest the allegations of preferential military service treatment for Seo have had an impact on males who have completed or will complete their own service and the 50-something voters in their parents’ generation. President Moon Jae-in’s governance approval rating was also down 2.4 percentage points from the week before to 45.7%, while negative ratings of his performance were up 1.4 percentage points to 49.5% -- meaning that negative ratings outweighed positive ones within the margin of error. More details can be found on the websites of Real Meter and the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission (Korean only).

Meanwhile, Democratic Party lawmakers have continued to defy the public’s sentiments with their remarks over the past several days, which have included defending a Choo aide’s actions in contacting the military in connection with Seo’s leave. In a Sept. 10 appearance on the KBS radio program “Kim Kyung-rae’s Strongest Sisa,” Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said, “It’s not desirable, but it often happens that aides conduct personal business on [lawmakers’] behalf.”

“Since there are cases of handling matters that are on the borderline between private and public, I don’t think it’s an issue in itself [if the aide made a call that was not intended for purposes of applying pressure],” he added.

In an appearance on the YTN radio show “A New Morning, A Fresh Start,” Rep. Jang Kyung-tae said, “It seems to be that the aide made the confirmation because it was a situation where [Choo] could not inquire herself [as party leader].”

“If a parent had done the inquiry, it might have caused a misunderstanding. It was an unavoidable situation from the standpoint of a son whose mother is a politician,” he added. Critics have taken aim at the remarks as suggesting a misguided attitude viewing the use of aides -- government employees affiliated with the legislature -- for personal business as “acceptable.”

Amid the firestorm over the gaffes, party leader Lee Nak-yeon implored lawmakers to be more cautious in a “non-face-to-face general meeting” at the National Assembly that day.

“As we’ve experienced over the past few months, we’re facing a painful situation where people take it for granted when you do politics properly, and where it becomes a major issue if anything goes wrong,” he stressed.

“I hope our lawmakers will take extra care and bear through it,” he added.

A lawmaker affiliated with the party leadership predicted, “The opposition is going to keep attacking us over this issue in the upcoming government Q&A, Chuseok holiday, and parliamentary audit.”

“This has got to be a burden for Lee Nak-yeon as leader, with the pressure on him to produce results during the regular National Assembly session,” the lawmaker said.

“But there doesn’t seem to be any real means available to Lee. It looks like he has no choice but to wait and watch the investigation,” the lawmaker added, signaling a note of frustration.

By Kim Won-chul, Noh Ji-won, and Yi Ju-been, staff reporters

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