The Holy See announced on March 30, 2009 that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI accepted the petition of Bishop Paul Choi Deok-ki, who presented his resignation from the pastoral care of Suwon because of health problems, and that Bishop Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, Coadjutor Bishop of Suwon, would succeed him automatically and hold the office of 4th Bishop of Suwon.

Immediately after the resignation of Bishop Choi, Bishop Ri began his office as Bishop of Suwon and issued a special letter addressed to priests, religious and the laity of the Diocese. In the letter, he says that he feels a serious responsibility to take care of the Diocese and invokes the help of the Holy Spirit, humbly kneeling to Lord, before such an important ecclesiastical office. He adds that he will do his best to preserve the pastoral heritage and spiritual tradition of the Diocese, making an example of his precedents, and to promote peace and growth of the Diocese, by asking advice of the diocesan priests and the faithful in developing the works of God within the Diocese.

The Installation of Bishop Ri will take place on May 14, at 2pm at the Cathedral of Jeongja-dong of Suwon.

Bishop Ri was born in 1951 in Hwasung, Gyeonggi-do and ordained a priest in 1979. After obtaining a doctorate in moral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in 1988, he held various posts at the Catholic University of Suwon until 2002 as instructor, professor and President. He was nominated as the Auxiliary Bishop of Suwon on March 7, 2003, and then the Coadjutor of Suwon on October 10, 2008.