The central and provincial governments may share the burden of supporting North Korean defectors.
The Seoul government decided to consider transferring some functions of financially assisting and managing the refuge seekers, to local authorities.
Prior to the envisioned measure, the government plans to implement a system in which private organizations with nation-wide networks such as the Korean Red Cross to be in charge of helping the defectors in their initial settlement.
A government official said Sunday that with more than a thousand North Koreans flooding to the South every year, many agree it is time to change the central government-oriented support system of the escapees.
The official emphasized the important role of provincial governments in protecting the defectors' residence and helping them with employment .
Earlier, the government said it will replace monetary aid to the defectors with incentives for them to stand on their own feet.