Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Cho became a Christian under the influence of Presbyterian missionaries. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Korea University in 1955 and entered government service.
While Cho was traveling to the United States, a coup toppled the Korean government and he opted to stay in the U.S. He was eventually reunited with his family and continued his studies, receiving his Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from New York University. He taught for 29 years at North Carolina Central University, with 22 of those years spent also as associate dean of undergraduate studies in the School of Business.
Cho was constantly active in all levels of the PC(USA). He helped organize the DuRaleigh Church in 1974, the first Korea Presbyterian congregation in North Carolina. He was ordained a PC(USA) elder in 1979.
Cho was active at all levels of the PC(USA) and in a variety of capacities. He moderated his presbytery and served on the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. He served two terms on the General Assembly Council, including a stint as chair in 1996-1997.
During that time he also led a successful fundraising drive to build the chapel at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville. Later he served on the steering committee of the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands Campaign and on the board of trustees of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he was instrumental in developing the seminary’s ties to theological education in Korea.
Perhaps his greatest church interest was Presbyterian Men, which he served as president for many years. Beginning in 1980, Cho returned to Korea every year, creating and facilitating an exchange program for Korean and American Presbyterian men, youth and lay leaders.
In 2000, Cho became general secretary of the National Laymen’s Association of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK) and in 2007 the PCK bestowed on him the Laymen’s Great Award. In the church’s 100-plus year history, only three people have been so honored, and Cho is the first American citizen to receive the honor.
Youngil Cho was preceded in death by his wife, Insook Cho, and his parents Tu Om Cho and Soonye Lee Cho. He is survived by his children ― sons Thomas Cho of South Korea and Edward Cho and his wife Badriah of Charlotte, N.C.; daughters Debra Ko and her husband Doyoon of Virginia Beach, Va., Victoria Bishop and her husband Robert, and Anna Munro and her husband Michael, all of Clearwater, Fla. ― and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Che Kwang Cho, and his wife Hee Jeung.
