One of the most celebrated aspects of Daisy is its cinematography. The film was shot on location in the Netherlands. The director utilized the cobblestone streets, canals, and flower fields of Amsterdam to create a European art-house aesthetic. The contrast between the violent gunfights and the peaceful, pastoral beauty of the daisy fields creates a distinct visual atmosphere.
The story is set in the Netherlands, primarily in Amsterdam, and revolves around a tragic love triangle involving a young artist and two men who lead dangerous lives.
The Protagonist: Hye-young Hye-young (played by Jun Ji-hyun) is a street painter who lives a quiet life in the countryside, waiting for the return of her mysterious benefactor. Years ago, someone built a bridge over a dangerous ravine to help her cross, and has since left a pot of daisies on her doorstep every day at 4:15 PM. She has fallen in love with this faceless stranger.
The Hitman: Park Yi Park Yi (played by Jung Woo-sung) is a professional hitman. He is the actual benefactor—the one who built the bridge and leaves the flowers. However, because of his criminal lifestyle, he feels he cannot approach Hye-young. He watches her from afar, loving her silently. One day, he finally approaches her, not as the flower-giver, but as a client wanting to have his portrait painted. They begin to fall in love, but Park Yi hides his true identity and the fact that he is the one she has been waiting for.
The Interpol Agent: Jeong Woo Jeong Woo (played by Lee Sung-jae) is an Interpol agent tracking an international crime syndicate. During a stakeout, he encounters Hye-young. To maintain his cover, he poses as the man who has been sending her daisies. Hye-young, believing Jeong Woo is her long-awaited love, falls for him. Jeong Woo also falls for her, creating a web of deception and guilt.
The Climax The narrative shifts when a botched assassination attempt leads to a shootout in the city square. Hye-young is caught in the crossfire and loses her voice due to traumatic shock. As the investigation deepens and the crime syndicate targets the characters, the truth about the three lives intertwines, leading to a tragic and heart-wrenching conclusion. Daisy 2006 Korean Movie 20
As of 2026, Daisy is widely available across major streaming platforms, though availability varies by region. For the best experience, look for the ”20th Anniversary Remastered Edition” rumored to be released in Q4 2026 by CJ ENM. This edition is expected to include:
In the meantime, you can find Daisy on:
Title: Daisy (Korean: 데이지) Release Year: 2006 Genre: Melodrama, Romance, Action, Crime Director: Andrew Lau (Wai-Keung Lau) Screenwriter: Kwak Jae-young Starring: Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-jae Country: South Korea / Hong Kong
Daisy (2006) is a poignant South Korean romantic thriller that remains a landmark in East Asian cinema for its unique co-production between Korea and Hong Kong. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Amsterdam and Haarlem in the Netherlands, the film weaves a tragic love triangle involving a street artist, an assassin, and an Interpol detective. The Core Narrative: A Silent Love Triangle
The story revolves around Hye-young (Jun Ji-hyun), a young painter who survives by working in her grandfather's antique shop and painting portraits for tourists in a city square. One of the most celebrated aspects of Daisy
The Mysterious Admirer: Every day at 4 PM, a pot of fresh daisies is delivered to her doorstep. She falls in love with the memory of a mysterious person who once built a bridge over a stream for her in the countryside, unaware that this man is Park Yi (Jung Woo-sung), a professional hitman.
The Mistaken Identity: When Jeong Woo (Lee Sung-jae), an Interpol detective, approaches her in the square under the guise of being a subject for a portrait—using the cover to stake out a criminal—Hye-young mistakenly believes he is the one who has been sending her the daisies.
The Tragic Conflict: Park Yi watches from afar as Hye-young falls for the detective. The tragedy deepens when Park Yi is assigned his next contract: to assassinate Jeong Woo. Production and Creative Vision
Directed by Andrew Lau (famous for Infernal Affairs), Daisy blends the melancholic melodrama typical of Korean cinema with the high-octane action sequences of Hong Kong thrillers.
Cinematography: The film is celebrated for its lush, painting-like visuals. Lau utilized nearly 70% natural lighting and filmed on location in the Netherlands to capture an authentic European atmosphere. In the meantime, you can find Daisy on:
Versions: Two distinct versions were released—the Asian cut (standard theatrical release) and an International/Director’s cut, which offers a slightly different narrative flow and ending.
Leading Cast: The film stars three of Korea's biggest names: Jun Ji-hyun (My Sassy Girl) Jung Woo-sung (A Moment to Remember) Lee Sung-jae (Public Enemy) Legacy and Critical Reception
While critics were divided on the film's pacing—some found it "long-winded" while others praised its "fluid narrative"—Daisy earned approximately $10 million at the worldwide box office. It is often remembered for its haunting classical score and the "silent" communication between its leads, which emphasizes the theme of unrequited, fated love. Daisy (2006) - IMDb
Look closely at the film’s narrative structure. It is split into three chapters, much like a flower blooming. The midpoint (around minute 20 of the second act) is where the detective enters, and the daisies begin to wilt. Furthermore, the film asks a question that takes 20 years of living to answer: Is it better to be loved silently or not at all?
The hitman represents "unseen love." The detective represents "performed love." Hye-young, tragically, only values the love she can see. By the final shootout, when she shields the hitman with her body, she finally sees him—but it’s too late. That is the cruel arithmetic of melodrama: Timing is everything, and 20 seconds too late is still a lifetime too late.
Ask any K-drama or K-movie fan over 30 about Daisy, and they will likely hum the main theme. The song “Daisy” by Japanese-Korean artist Hey (also known as Sun Ye) is inseparable from the film. The line: “I’m sorry, but I love you / I couldn’t say it, I was a fool” became a karaoke staple across Asia for years. Twenty years later, the song still triggers an emotional reaction, and it recently saw a resurgence on TikTok as part of a “Sad Korean Movie OST” trend.
Looking back 20 years, Daisy was ahead of its time in several ways: