Following promising performances with the Sangmu and at the start of his experience in Suwon, Cho was taken in consideration for the senior national football team since 2005. Dutch manager Jo Bonfrère gave the Blue Wings affiliate his first call-up and made him start in an unofficial friendly against North Korea on August 14, 2005, as well as hosting him on the bench three days later, in a 0-1 loss against Saudi Arabia, a match regarding the final round of the Asian qualifications to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.