Actually 10 or more years ago it was the exact opposite, Jdramas were much more entertaining to watch and original. Kdramas, as you also state, were longer and seemed to drag a lot in comparison. The acting was many times exaggerated and over the top, people shouting or hitting each other, the characters were usually people completely wronged by the society and own families (aka victims) and many Kdramas were remakes of Jdramas or manga adaptations.
However, in my opinion, in recent years the Jdrama industry (much like the country's society itself) has been steadily losing creativity and merely copying what's already been made elsewhere, in that sense dedicating itself more to medical or mystery dramas. The characters lack depth which reflects in the acting and vice-versa. For instance, I haven't posted a review on it yet, but you watch the Kdrama Good Doctor and then the Japanese version and you tell me whose acting skills are WAY better. Romantic Jdramas never really displayed a lot of skinship to begin with, but nowadays it also lacks emotion. Where is the passion? The characters have become more stoic and egocentric, usually focusing solely on their job, love and overall consideration toward others isn't their main concern. There's no shouting, losing one's temper, arguing, fighting... nothing. I get that in my daily life already, do not need it as entertainment.
In comparison, Kdrama have been improving quite a lot. Sure, there are many dramas where characters could still be more developed or the length of the episodes reduced, but I think these have been decreasing in number. You can see there's a lot of effort put into creating different stories, funny scenes and dialogues. Not only that, there's a whole background to the characters (no matter how shallow), the sets were the scenes are filmed are usually very detailed and thought of. Of course there's a whole different level of advertising as well (e.g. cellphones, coffee shops, brands) that you don't see on Jdramas at all, but that means more effort and realism. Sometimes there's even a completely made-up coffee chains are other things. More importantly, there's emotion and passion.
Maybe it's just me who changed and got tired of most Jdramas, but no, I think the industry has changed as well.
However, in my opinion, in recent years the Jdrama industry (much like the country's society itself) has been steadily losing creativity and merely copying what's already been made elsewhere, in that sense dedicating itself more to medical or mystery dramas.
The characters lack depth which reflects in the acting and vice-versa. For instance, I haven't posted a review on it yet, but you watch the Kdrama Good Doctor and then the Japanese version and you tell me whose acting skills are WAY better.
Romantic Jdramas never really displayed a lot of skinship to begin with, but nowadays it also lacks emotion. Where is the passion? The characters have become more stoic and egocentric, usually focusing solely on their job, love and overall consideration toward others isn't their main concern.
There's no shouting, losing one's temper, arguing, fighting... nothing.
I get that in my daily life already, do not need it as entertainment.
In comparison, Kdrama have been improving quite a lot. Sure, there are many dramas where characters could still be more developed or the length of the episodes reduced, but I think these have been decreasing in number.
You can see there's a lot of effort put into creating different stories, funny scenes and dialogues. Not only that, there's a whole background to the characters (no matter how shallow), the sets were the scenes are filmed are usually very detailed and thought of.
Of course there's a whole different level of advertising as well (e.g. cellphones, coffee shops, brands) that you don't see on Jdramas at all, but that means more effort and realism. Sometimes there's even a completely made-up coffee chains are other things.
More importantly, there's emotion and passion.
Maybe it's just me who changed and got tired of most Jdramas, but no, I think the industry has changed as well.