Hwang made her acting debut in 2003 and became popular after she played a quirky-looking "cup noodle girl" in a ramyeon commercial.

[2] This was followed by supporting roles in films and television dramas such as Arang and the Magistrate (2012), The Eldest (2013), and Cunning Single Lady (2014).

[3][4][5] Hwang has also played leading roles in ghost romance Jumunjin (2010; which reunited her with Rainbow Romance co-star Kim Kibum), revenge drama Dangerous Woman (2011), and horror movie Navigation (2014).

[6][7] On July 6, 2022, Hwang revealed that she will be marrying Kim Young-hoon [ko], CEO of her management agency Walk House Company whom she had been dating for 10 years, on November 6, 2022, in a private wedding ceremony in Seoul.

[12] On November 16, 2022, Hwang donated 10,000 batteries through Seoul Briquette Bank to help keep the elderly warm during the winter.