[1] Cho was born in a farming village in Buan, Zenrahoku-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan.
In 1934, Japanese professional Kitani Minoru visited Korea and played with ten-year-old Cho, who deeply impressed the great master.
In 1943, he returned to Korea and played a key role in the founding of the Hanguk Kiwon.
It wasn't until 1983, that he would be awarded 9 dan, but for most of the 1950s and 1960s, he won the vast majority of national tournaments.
Namchul is also the uncle of the top Japanese Go title holder Cho Chikun.