Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting held on Monday at the party's headquarters in Seoul. Yonhap

This Friday marks the one-month anniversary of Han Dong-hoon's election as chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), following his landslide victory on July 23 in the race for the party's new leader and decision-making Supreme Council members.

With 63 percent of the total votes cast, Han was declared the undisputed winner without the need for a run-off. His support exceeded the combined figures of the three other candidates.

However, his sweeping victory was soon overshadowed. Now, at 51, the prosecutor-turned-politician Han is facing growing skepticism about his leadership from within the party.

In cyberspace, Han-bashing has reached its peak, with YouTube inundated with hate speech directed at the PPP leader. Interestingly, many of these critics are conservatives.

They portray Han as a traitor who ousted conservative candidates in the selection process for the PPP's candidates in the April 10 National Assembly elections. They claim that the PPP lost the elections due to Han's misguided campaign strategy, which sought to win over center-left voters — referred to as "wild rabbits" in political metaphor — at the expense of traditional conservative supporters, or "domestic rabbits."

Criticism of Han from within the party signifies that he has yet to establish a firm footing in the ruling camp.

It is unusual for a party leader who won decisively in an internal competition just a month ago to become unpopular.

Four weeks are too short for the so-called "convention effect" — a political term referring to the extended popularity of a winning candidate following a leadership contest — to dissipate.

It is puzzling that the new leader struggles to assert control over the ruling camp, especially given his prior experience in the same role. Han, who previously served as the interim leader of the PPP and orchestrated the party's campaign for the April 10 National Assembly elections, was treated like a rock star during the campaign season. Despite his popularity, the election results were disappointing. The PPP was decisively defeated, securing barely a third of the 300 seats available.

Without offering any excuses, he took responsibility for the defeat and decided to step down.

The harsh reality of leadership is that it is result-driven. The fates of leaders depend on the performance of their organizations after they take charge. If the organization excels, the leader is credited with the success. Conversely, if the organization underperforms or delivers disappointing results, the leader must take responsibility.

Politicians who resign to take responsibility for election losses often choose a period of self-imposed exile, either at home or abroad, before eventually making a return to politics.

But Han was different. After a brief break following the election, he announced his candidacy for the PPP's leadership contest in July. This decision was controversial. His return to politics while his party was still reeling from the crushing election defeat was seen as a self-serving move aimed at pursuing his personal ambitions.

Despite the controversy, he was elected nonetheless.

Han is unusual in that he made a hasty decision to return to politics without taking time for self-reflection on his tenure in the ruling party. Some pundits view him positively as a confident, trailblazing politician from the younger generation who chose not to follow the traditional path adhered to by older politicians.

But his rapid return to politics has raised doubts about his integrity. Some question whether he has learned or is willing to learn from his failed leadership during the elections. The April 10 elections were crucial not only for the ruling party but also for President Yoon Suk Yeol and the nation. The PPP's failure to secure a majority of Assembly seats has left the party unable to act independently.

Han's failure to reflect on the post-election results has led political observers to question whether he took the election results seriously or was more concerned with his own interests.

This suspicion has fueled the criticism of Han among some conservatives.

Han had to address this negative sentiment during a private meeting with a group of 18 retired politicians on Monday.

One of the attendees was quoted as saying that Han needs to demonstrate whether he is a capable leader. "Your intellect has been proven, but now you must prove yourself as a leader. Specifically, you need to show whether you can connect with voters on an emotional level. If you plan to implement affirmative action for the underprivileged, you need to engage with them from the heart, not just from the head," he said.

Han is an ambitious politician with presidential aspirations. To achieve his goals, he needs to listen to feedback and address his shortcomings. He faces criticism for being aloof and self-centered. While popularity is important, credibility is crucial. It is a key factor in gaining and retaining voter support. A politician's credibility can transform popularity into a strong foundation for a successful political career. Han must evaluate whether he is viewed as a trustworthy and dependable leader and continue to work on self-improvement. Otherwise, his popularity might prove to be fleeting.

The writer is a member of the editorial board at The Korea Times.