After seeing K-pop groups such as TVXQ and Girls' Generation together with his sister on television, he was fascinated with their vocal skills, synchronized dance, and visual.

Later, he applied to the global audition opened in Japan by a Korean entertainment company when he was in grade 2 middle school.

During the reading session set in the morning in his middle school, he studied Korean and imitated dancing while watching K-pop videos.

[3][1] In 2015, Yuto participated in 2015 Idol Star Athletics Ssireum Basketball Futsal Archery Championships.

[4] At the championship, Yuto teamed with Goaldae-Sliga alongside Doo-joon and Yoseob of Beast, and Roh Ji-hoon, and took the gold medal in the men futsal.

[5][6] In 2016, Yuto joined as survival candidate in a South Korean television reality program Pentagon Maker, hosted by Cube Entertainment and co-produced by Mnet.

[12] Before the group officially debuted, Yuto made his first cameo on Yeo One's web drama Spark, alongside fellow Pentagon members Hui, E'Dawn and Wooseok.

[16] On September 24, Yuto challenged his first role as the MC for Japan-Korea 10th Anniversary KMF2017 which was held at Yokohama Arena.

[17] In 2018, Yuto co-hosted 69th Sapporo Snow Fest 10th Anniversary K-POP FESTIVAL 2018 along with Monsta X's Hyungwon and Target's Woojin.

[22] On October 9, it was announced that he had left Cube Entertainment alongside fellow Pentagon members Yeo One, Yanan, Kino, and Wooseok.