What Is Daisy About?
The premise of Daisy in 289 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet canals of Amsterdam, a solitary painter makes her living sketching strangers who pause by her easel, capturing fleeting moments of strangers’ lives in delicate lines. Hye‑young moves between the bustling market and the tranquil waterway, her world a blend of color, solitude, and the soft rustle of breezes that carry an unexpected gift each afternoon: a single daisy left on her workbench, its source unknown.
Across the same city, a man of precise habit and shadowed skill watches from a distance. Park Yi is a professional whose life is defined by contracts and quiet efficiency, yet he finds himself drawn into a fragile curiosity when he notices the painter’s routine. The simple act of leaving a flower becomes a silent bridge between two worlds that would otherwise never intersect, hinting at a tenderness hidden beneath his hardened exterior.
Meanwhile, an Interpol detective arrives on the scene, following a trail that leads him to the same waterside portrait stand. Jeong Woo carries the weight of a demanding investigation, his presence a subtle blend of authority and intrigue. His interactions with the artist are marked by professional focus, but the recurring daisies begin to stir a quieter, more personal contemplation, blurring the line between duty and desire.
The film balances the romance of a city famed for its canals with a tense undercurrent of unseen conflicts, weaving together the lives of a creator, a killer, and a cop. As each character navigates the delicate dance of attraction, secrecy, and responsibility, the simple elegance of a single flower becomes the quiet catalyst for a story that hovers between beauty and danger, inviting the audience to wonder how far one will go for a glimpse of connection amid the shadows.
What Happens in Daisy?
The complete story of Daisy, from the first scene to the last, in 779 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
Hye-young Jun Ji-hyun is an artist who earns a living by sketching portraits for 30 euros each, capturing the lines and stories of the people she encounters in the mountains. Park Yi [Jung Woo-sung] is a skilled, quiet professional hit man who, from a distance, sees her at her stand of paints and instantly falls for her. Their fateful encounter unfolds on a narrow channel where a log becomes a makeshift bridge, and a lost art bag becomes the seed of a fragile connection that will redefine both of their lives.
When Hye-young slips and loses her bag while crossing the water, Park Yi rushes to help, but finds her gone. He salvages the bag and replaces the log with a sturdy bridge, a gesture that transforms the moment into a small miracle. The next time she returns to paint, she discovers the bridge and the bag’s return stitched into a quiet, hopeful message. She completes her painting of the mountains and leaves it in place of the bag as a heartfelt thank-you to the anonymous builder.
From then on, a daily ritual begins: at 4:15 pm sharp, daisies arrive for Hye-young. She grows intrigued by the sender’s humor and warmth, and a soft affection sprouts. Park Yi, aware of the danger that shadows his line of work, keeps his distance, torn between his love and the need to protect her from the world he inhabits.
Jeong Woo [Lee Sung-jae] is an Interpol detective chasing a drug ring. While tracking the criminals, he crosses paths with Hye-young at her portrait stand, asking for a portrait as part of his investigation. This routine encounter becomes a recurring thread as he quietly observes the crowd and the activity around her. Soon, the drug dealers realize someone is watching their moves, and the danger grows closer to both of them.
Hye-young begins to believe that Jeong Woo is the flower sender, and she develops strong feelings for him, while Jeong Woo hides his own emotions to keep his investigation intact. Park Yi watches the duo closely, ready to intervene if the line between his world and theirs crosses too far.
The tension escalates when armed gangsters close in. Park Yi acts in a desperate bid to protect Jeong Woo, firing his sniper rifle to fend off the attackers. In the process, Hye-young is shot in the neck as she tries to shield Jeong Woo, and the injury leaves her mute. The guilt weighs heavily on Jeong Woo, who accepts responsibility for the cascade of violence that followed.
Jeong Woo is transferred back to Korea, leaving Hye-young to cope with the tragedy and Park Yi’s presence that haunts her days. Yet Park Yi cannot fully disengage and continues to watch over her, even as she remains torn between memory and longing for Jeong Woo.
A year passes, and Jeong Woo returns to the Netherlands to offer an apology. His boss pushes to unravel the truth behind the earlier events, and a sharper investigation reveals Park Yi’s real identity as a professional killer. A trap is laid to draw out the killer by targeting Jeong Woo.
Backroom politics come to the fore as Jeong Woo’s boss contracts Park Yi’s dealer to kill Jeong Woo, hoping to finish the matter once and for all. When Jeong Woo arrives with undercover protection, Park Yi confronts him in private, and Jeong Woo feints waiting for a moment. The plan spirals out of control as Jeong Woo, now surrounded by cops, is shot in the head by an assassin belonging to Park Yi’s organization—an act that forces Park Yi to reveal his true self and his refusal to kill Jeong Woo, even as the other killer’s bullet strikes.
The truth comes to light through hints from Jeong Woo’s boss, and Hye-young realizes that Park Yi was the source of the daisies. With this revelation, she confronts Park Yi and tries to stop him from killing his boss. The attempt ends badly when the assassin responsible for Jeong Woo’s death targets Park Yi, and Hye-young, in a last act of protection, interrupts the attack by catching a shot that would have claimed Park Yi’s life—dying in the process.
In the aftermath, Park Yi sinks into a rage and exacts revenge on his gang, confronting his boss, President Cho, in a tense Mexican standoff. They exchange gunfire, and Park Yi staggers away, wounded but alive in the street.
In the final scene, an epilogue paints a quiet moment: Park Yi, Jeong Woo, and Hye-young stand among a crowd waiting for the rain to stop, their eyes meeting and a shared, fragile smile passing between them amid the lingering storm clouds.
Daisy Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “First sighting in the mountains” to “Epilogue: a moment in the rain”. 15 events name a place, across 15 locations.
- 1
First sighting in the mountains
Park Yi, a professional hit man, first spots Hye-young painting in the remote mountains and is immediately drawn to her. He observes her from a distance, careful not to scare her away. This initial encounter plants the seed for a complex, forbidden affection that will shape the events to come.
Where:High mountains
- 2
The rescue and the bridge
While crossing a narrow log, Hye-young slips and loses her art bag. Park Yi races to help and replaces the fragile log with a sturdy bridge to make crossing safer. He retrieves the bag and returns it to her, though she remains unaware of his identity at this moment.
Where:Narrow log crossing
- 3
The bag found and painting tribute
The moment she finds her bag hung on the new bridge, Hye-young completes a painting of the surrounding mountains. She leaves the finished work in place of the bag as a quiet tribute to the mysterious benefactor. The gesture marks the start of an uneasy but growing connection between them.
Where:Bridge
- 4
Daisy deliveries begin at 4:15 PM
From that day onward, daisies begin arriving at 4:15 PM every day, delivered with silent consistency. Hye-young is touched by the mystery sender’s thoughtfulness and starts looking forward to the daily ritual. The routine also draws her closer to the idea of love beyond what she understands.
When:4:15 PM Where:Hye-young's painting spot
- 5
Enter Jeong Woo at the portrait stand
Interpol detective Jeong Woo is chasing a drug ring when he encounters Hye-young at her portrait stand. He asks for a portrait while observing the crowd, and their paths repeatedly cross as the investigation progresses. He keeps his cover but can’t help noticing the growing magnetism between them.
Where:Netherlands portrait stand
- 6
Love and danger: a growing attraction
Hye-young begins to believe that the floral messages come from Jeong Woo and she develops real feelings for him. He struggles to reveal his true mission and keeps a professional distance to protect her. The emotional tension tightens as danger lurks nearby.
Where:Public area near the stand
- 7
The ambush and the neck wound
A gangsters’ approach forces the trio into danger. Park Yi acts decisively, firing his sniper to deter the crooks and protect Jeong Woo. In the firefight, Jeong Woo is wounded in the shoulder and Hye-young takes a bullet to the neck while shielding him, losing her ability to speak.
Where:Outdoor location near the stand
- 8
Separation and quiet longing
Jeong Woo is sent back to Korea, leaving Hye-young alone and heartbroken. Park Yi feels compelled to stay close to her, even as he keeps his true identity and intentions hidden. The distance between them widens as time passes.
When:Soon after Where:Netherlands / Korea
- 9
A year later, a return and apology
One year later, Jeong Woo returns to the Netherlands and apologizes on Hye-young’s doorstep, tears in her eyes. The emotional reunion is brief and underscored by how much has changed. The unresolved tension between love and danger remains.
When:One year later Where:Netherlands
- 10
The trap is set
Jeong Woo’s boss orders a trap to flush out Park Yi by targeting Jeong Woo himself. Investigators close in, and Park Yi’s identity as a professional hit man becomes a central element of the pursuit. The plan sets the stage for a brutal confrontation.
Where:Detective agency / Office
Show the other 5 events of Daisy Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Jeong Woo's fatal confrontation
In a tense confrontation, Jeong Woo shows up with undercover cops around him and tries to speak with a friend. Park Yi arrives and reveals his true identity, but Jeong Woo is shot in the head by an assassin belonging to Park Yi’s outfit. The events solidify the tragic end of Jeong Woo and deepen the feud.
Where:Car / street
- 12
Funeral clues and realization
At Jeong Woo’s funeral, hints from the boss begin to point toward Park Yi. Hye-young realizes who has been sending the daisies and confronts him, only to be drugged by a spiked tea and rendered unconscious. The truth drives the final arc toward vengeance.
Where:Funeral location
- 13
The revelation and the fatal shield
After the revelations, Hye-young understands that Park Yi was the daisies sender. She confronts him and pleads for him to stop, but a hidden assassin shoots at Park Yi. Hye-young shields him with her body, taking the fatal bullet and dying.
Where:City street
- 14
Revenge and the Mexican standoff
Park Yi exacts revenge by wiping out his gang and faces President Cho in a Mexican standoff. The two exchange gunfire until Park Yi limps out of the building, wounded but alive. The brutal showdown marks his solitary culmination of the violence that defined his life.
Where:Mexican standoff location
- 15
Epilogue: a moment in the rain
In the epilogue, Park Yi, Jeong Woo, and Hye-young stand together in a crowd under an overhang, waiting for the rain to stop. They catch sight of each other and share a quiet, grateful smile for the moment of connection they never truly had. The scene offers a bittersweet sense of peace amid the aftermath.
When:Rain stops Where:Public overhang
Who Are the Main Characters in Daisy?
4 characters, among them Hye-young (Jun Ji-hyun), Park Yi (Jung Woo-sung) and Jeong Woo (Lee Sung-jae): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- H(
Hye-young (Jun Ji-hyun)
Played by Jun Ji-hyun
An artist who makes her living sketching portraits, Hye-young forms the emotional center of the story. Her kindness and artistic sensibility drive her to protect others, even as she endure trauma that leaves her mute after being shot. Her growing feelings for Park Yi and her later heartbreak after Jeong Woo's departure complicate her sense of belonging. Her resilience becomes a quiet thread that holds the narrative together.
- 🎨 Artist
- 💕 Love interest
- 🧊 Tragedy
- PY
Park Yi (Jung Woo-sung)
Played by Jung Woo-sung
A professional hit man who falls in love with Hye-young and grapples with a moral conflict between his dangerous work and his feelings for her. He protects her by taking risks and makes hard choices, including violent acts to shield others. His pursuit of safety for Hye-young ultimately leads to a fatal confrontation that ties his fate to the lovers' story. He embodies loyalty, danger, and a complicated code of honor.
- 🗡️ Hitman
- 💔 Love
- 🛡️ Protector
- JW
Jeong Woo (Lee Sung-jae)
Played by Lee Sung-jae
An Interpol detective who becomes entangled with Hye-young and the escalating drug-ring case. He carries guilt for the disruption caused by pursuing the criminals, and his relationship with Hye-young remains unspoken for much of the story. His return to Korea and the eventual revelation of Park Yi's true identity drive the tragic arc toward the final confrontation. He embodies dedication and the costs of undercover work.
- 🕵️♂️ Detective
- 🧭 Duty
- 💔 Tragedy
- C(
Cho (David Chiang Da-Wei)
Played by David Chiang Da-Wei
The crime boss behind the plot, orchestrating schemes to trap Park Yi and manage the drug-ring operations. He represents calculated power and moral ambiguity within the criminal underworld. His plans become vulnerable as the narrative spirals toward a dangerous confrontation with Park Yi. He embodies control, manipulation, and the high stakes of organized crime.
- 👑 Boss
- 💼 Crime Lord
- ⚖️ Power
Where and When Is Daisy Set?
Daisy is set in Netherlands and Korea. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Netherlands, Korea
The story unfolds across multiple locations, moving from remote mountain landscapes and a narrow log crossing that becomes a bridge, to urban Interpol environments in the Netherlands, and later back in Korea. The Netherlands serves as the primary setting for Hye-young's portrait work and Park Yi's discreet surveillance as a hit man. The plot also shifts to a crime-world backdrop, where international investigations and gang activity move the characters toward a violent climax. The geographical contrast underlines the romance, danger, and tragedy that drive the narrative.
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇰🇷 Korea
What Are the Themes of Daisy?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love vs Duty, Violence and Sacrifice and Fate and Tragedy.
-
01
Love vs Duty
The romance between Hye-young and Park Yi unfolds under a cloud of danger. Park Yi, a professional hit man, struggles to protect her while concealing his true life. Hye-young's growing affection, influenced by the mysterious daisies and a sense of destiny, complicates their bond. The story uses small gestures—like the rescued log-bridge and the daisies—to explore how love can coexist with violence, yet carry heavy consequences.
-
02
Violence and Sacrifice
The film blends mercy with brutality as gunfights, betrayals, and assassination plots push characters toward harsh choices. Park Yi's loyalty to Hye-young clashes with his deadly profession, forcing sacrifices for her safety. Hye-young endures physical and emotional wounds that change her forever. Vengeance and protection collide in the climax, revealing the high price of loyalty in a criminal underworld.
-
03
Fate and Tragedy
Arrival, miscommunication, and fatal consequences weave a tragic arc. Jeong Woo's pursuit of a solution to the drug-ring case intersects with his personal connections, leading to guilt and a sense of inevitability. The recurring motif of rain, reflection, and flowers frames how chance and destiny steer the characters toward a heartbreaking finish. The final moments leave a bittersweet sense of reunion shadowed by loss.
What Kind of Film Is Daisy?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A melancholic and tense romance intertwining a hitman's silent love, a detective's investigation, and an artist's tragedy, building towards a bittersweet and fatalistic conclusion filled with sacrifice and longing.
- melancholic
- tense
- tragic romance
- hopeful
- lonely
- fatalistic
- fated love
- professional assassin
- crime investigation
- sacrifice
Content notes: graphic violence, shooting, murder, conspiracy, traumatic injury.
Quiz
How well do you remember Daisy? Test yourself on the story.
