In 2002, Shin starred in her most famous role as a tough, female gang boss in "My Wife Is a Gangster". The film drew more than 5 million spectators and became a strong hit throughout Asia. She also appeared in the sequel, "My Wife Is a Gangster 2", but the film faltered at the box office in 2003. Other roles Shin starred in around this time were as a detective in "This Is Law" (also known as "Out of Justice"), as a professional matchmaker in the romantic comedy "A Perfect Match", and as a naval officer in the box office bomb "Blue".