At the age of 14, while attending Dongduk Girls' High School, Shin Il-seon entered the entertainment industry by joining an opera troupe at the recommendation of her older brother. In 1926, she appeared in Arirang directed by Na Un-gyu, playing the role of Yeong-hee, the younger sister of the main character Yeong-jin. With the enormous success of this film, she became a star in her own right. In 1927,