He became interested in basketball as an elementary school student due to the popularity of the basketball-themed manga and its animated adaptation Slam Dunk and the television series The Last Match.

His college career was mostly overshadowed by a star-studded Yonsei team which included Yang Hee-jong, Kim Tae-sul and future 2006 KBL draft first overall pick Jeon Jeong-gyu.

[5] He notably scored 32 points in the final of the National Basketball Championships (college division), one of the collegiate tournaments prior to the establishment of the U-League.

[5] In his first full season, Cho and veteran point guard Shin Ki-sung formed the backbone of the KTF Magic Wings team which reached the play-off finals to face regular season champions Ulsan Mobis Phoebus, Yang Dong-geun's team.

In February 2017, it was announced that Cho would be traded to Changwon LG Sakers in exchange for its highest drawn pick of the upcoming rookie draft and forward Kim Young-hwan, who was on the last year of his contract.

[11] The move surprised observers and pundits as Cho was then KT Sonicboom's longest-serving player and considered to be the "face" of the franchise.

[2] After his good form during the 2013–14 season, Cho was chosen for the final squad to compete at the 2014 Asian Games, hosted on home soil.

[18] Yoon, a graduate of Seoul National University, is a former principal flautist of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Symphony Orchestra.