Shin made her entertainment debut at eight years old in 1998 when she was featured on the cover and poster for Seo Taiji's solo album Take Five.[6][7] As a child actress, Shin was already known to Koreans for her appearance in the popular children's show Popopo, which also starred Big Bang's G-Dragon. She spent her childhood hosting children shows.
2009–2014: Rise in popularity and transitioning roles
Shin failed to gain a large following until her breakthrough role as a housemaid on the popular TV sitcom High Kick Through the Roof in 2009.[15][16] Building on her sitcom fame, Shin signed on to numerous television commercials and print advertisement and became one of the most sought celebrity endorser.[17]
However, Shin's next project Fashion King (2012) was poorly received by audiences, particularly its controversial ending.[24][25]
Shin then released her first digital single, "You Were Sweet," which she recorded to promote a coffee franchise she models for.[26][27][28] A former singer trainee in middle school,[29] Shin has also contributed songs to the soundtrack of Hindsight,[30] the charity album Love Tree Project, and did her own singing in showcase piece Acoustic.[12] In 2012, she recorded a Christmas carol duet with Epitone Project.[31][32][33]
In a break from her usual dramatic roles, Shin played an aspiring comedian in the webtoon adaptation A Girl Who Sees Smells in 2015 as the titular character.[40] Shin then reunited with Fashion King costar Yoo Ah-in in Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016), another period drama from the screenwriters of Deep Rooted Tree.[41]
In 2019, Shin starred in the historical drama Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, alongside Cha Eun-woo.[45] She played the role of a noble lady who becomes one of the four female historians of the royal court, and won the Top Excellence Award for an Actress and Best Couple Award with Cha Eun-woo at the MBC Drama Awards.[46]
On July 3, 2024, it was announced that Shin has departed from EDAM Entertainment after her contract expiry.[50] On July 8, 2024, Shin signed an exclusive contract with The Present Company.[51]
Other activities
Ambassadorship
On January 15, 2014, Shin was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for UNESCO's Korean Committee. The honor serves as recognition for her contributions in promoting Korean culture and Education and her advocacy for the Korean language, including her appearance in Deep Rooted Tree. In this capacity, she endorses the vision and the mission of the UNESCO bridge program, both in Korea and outside.[citation needed] Shin was appointed as the Korean hanbok ambassador.[when?] She attended the hanbok runway show on October 20, 2017.[52]
Philanthropy
On December 20, 2022, Shin made a donation from YouTube profits to support sanitary napkins for teenage girls in Korea, by donating through the G Foundation.[53]
^Jo Hye-ryun (March 30, 2015). "'냄새를보는소녀' 신세경 "올해 26, 작년과 체력이 다르더라" 한숨" ['The Girl Who Sees Smell' Shin Se-kyung "This year 26, my physical strength is different from last year" sigh] (in Korean). TV Report. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021 – via Naver.
^Choi, Ji-yoon (December 30, 2019). "[2019 MBC연기대상]신세경·차은우 최고의 커플상" [[2019 MBC Drama Awards] Shin Se-kyung and Cha Eun-woo Best Couple Award]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seung-hoon (July 3, 2024). [단독]신세경, 아이유 품 떠난다..이담엔터 계약 만료 [[Exclusive] Shin Se-kyung leaves IU's embrace...EDAM Entertainment contract expires]. MT Star News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Naver.
^Im, Min-ji (July 8, 2024). 신세경, 더프레젠트컴퍼니와 전속계약..안효섭과 한솥밥(공식) [Shin Se-kyung signs an exclusive contract with The Present Company...same as Ahn Hyo-seop (Official)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Naver.
^"장도연·신세경 등...4인4색 한복 홍보대사". New Daily (in Korean). October 16, 2017. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^Hwang Hye-jin (December 20, 2022). "신세경, 유튜브 수익금 기부 "여성 청소년들 지원"[공식]" [Shin Se-kyung, YouTube proceeds donated "support for female teenagers" [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^최, 은영 (June 20, 2011). "신세경, 종현과 결별 인정.."최근 친구로"". m.edaily.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
^Son Jin-ah (July 9, 2021). "쇼박스, KT 시즌과 손잡고 '시네마틱 리얼 다큐' 만든다(공식)" [Showbox joins hands with KT Season to create a 'cinematic real documentary' (official)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
^Jung Yu-jin (September 16, 2021). "신세경 다큐 '어나더 레코드', 10월 OTT 시즌서 공개" [Shin Se-kyung's documentary 'Another Record' to be released in October OTT season]. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Naver.
^Ko, Jae-wan (November 1, 2023). "[공식] '세작, 매혹된 자들' 조정석·신세경 호흡 확정...내년 1월 첫방" [[Official] Jo Jung-seok and Shin Se-kyung's collaboration confirmed for 'Sejak, The Bewitched'... First broadcast in January next year] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong Hae-eun (June 2, 2022). "신세경, 폴킴 신곡 '원 모어 타임' 뮤비 출연 "'흑기사' 인연" [Shin Se-kyung, Paul Kim's new song 'One More Time' MV appearance "'Black Knight' bond] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022 – via Naver.