Shin started her acting career by starring in the film He's on Duty (2010) and television series Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011).

After she finished college, Shin decided to participate in various auditions, which landed her the roles in both 2010 black comedy film He's on Duty and 2011 SBS historical action Warrior Baek Dong-soo.

[1][2] With He's on Duty, Shin won Best New Actress at the prestigious 47th Baeksang Arts Awards for her portrayal of a Vietnamese worker struggling with racism in South Korea.

[3][4] Shin got mainstream recognition with her role as a noble young woman who hides an important map tattoo on her body with the highly rated TV series Warrior Baek Dong-soo.

In 2019 she was cast as the female lead of tvN's crime mystery Confession,[7] followed by the 2020 ensemble cast thriller film Beasts Clawing at Straws, for which Shin was nominated at the 41st Blue Dragon Film Awards.