The brother-in-law of King Taejong, Cho was a contributor to the founding of the Joseon dynasty.
As a result, Chŏng Mong-ju, Yi's political rival, demoted Cho to the post of magistrate of Cheongju.
As a reward for his contributions, Cho was awarded Dynasty Founding Merit Subject First Class (개국공신 1등), given the office of Minister of Rites (예조 전서; 禮曹 典書; yejo chŏnsŏ), and enfeoffed as the Lord of Pyeongwon (평원군; 平原君).
[2] However, on March 8, 1395,[b] he was jailed in Gongju for his failure to conduct a head count of the provincial army.
However, in the same year, he was recalled from exile and given the post of assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery (참찬문하부사; 參贊門下府事; ch'amch'an munhabu sa).