Shin So-yool began her acting career in 2006 with small roles in OCN’s Someday and SBS’ Lovers. Her career breakthrough came in 2012 when she landed a major role in the tvN series Answer Me 1997, which recorded a peak viewership rating of 7.55 percent. The drama also took home the Daesang at the 7th Cable TV Broadcasting Awards. In 2013, she won Best New Actress at the 21st Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards for her performance in the film My PS Partner. Her work in the movie also earned her Best New Actress nominations at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 50th Grand Bell Awards. In 2014, she led the KBS2 daily series Sweet Secret, which gave her an Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards.

Shin So-yool married musical actor Kim Ji-chul in December 2019. The couple were confirmed to be dating in March 2018.