On October 16, President Yoon of South Korea declared that the essence of prosecutorial reform hinges on separating investigations and prosecutions to exclude the prosecutorial authority from investigations. He stated that any concerns about the proposed reform are unfounded and dismissed dissenting views within his party and government. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), he clarified that administrative decisions, such as the title of the head of the Public Prosecution Office or the process of reappointing prosecutors, are not directly related to the critical reform objectives he outlined.

The president's comments follow reports of backlash from the hardline supporters within his party concerning the government's proposals for the establishment of the Central Crime Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청) and the Public Prosecution Office. This backlash raised questions about whether his administration's views on reform had softened post-inauguration. Yoon maintained that his administration is firmly committed to ensuring that the prosecution cannot influence investigations beyond the constitutional provisions, reaffirming that the separation of investigation and prosecution had already been solidified as a core governmental task.

Although the government’s proposal has been publicly announced, Yoon acknowledged that it was formed through discussions with the ruling party and could be amended further if necessary during the legislative process. However, he underscored that any amendments must support the overarching principles of separating investigative and prosecutorial functions and should not be motivated by personal agendas that would detract from the essence of prosecutorial reform. He cautioned against creating opportunities for constitutional disputes, particularly concerning changes to the title of the Prosecutor General, in light of objections raised by hardline lawmakers who are challenging the government’s collaborative proposals.