In 1955, he was involved in the formation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, also known as Chongryon, and served as chairman of the Kanagawa Prefecture headquarters.
[6] On May 19, 2012, following So Man-sul's death in February of the same year,[6][7] Jong-man took over as the third chairman of the General Federation of Korea.
[11] On March 26, 2015, his home was searched along with that of Vice Chairman Nam Seung-woo, as he was an associate of the president of a trading company who was arrested for illegally importing North Korean matsutake, which were subject to economic sanctions.
[12] On April 9, the Supreme People's Assembly was held in North Korea, but Nam attended from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
[citation needed] In the February 14, 2020 edition of the Rodong Sinmun, it was announced that the Order of the National Flag 1st Class and the title of Hero of Labor had been awarded to the three generations of leaders for "greatly contributing to the achievement of the Juche revolution and the patriotic achievements of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan with absolute loyalty.