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. He went to
Japan in 1937 to study go as Kitani's first
insei, or live-in student. 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. He is known as the founder of Korean modern Go. Namchul is also the uncle of the top Japanese Go title holder
Cho Chikun. After his death, he was honored by the president of Korea with a medal and floral tribute. ==Titles and runners-up==