Both shows have main characters with realistically muddled/mixed intentions.
Female lead has faced a tragic past, yet is willfull/self reliant and wise, while the male lead is often rash and childish but also honest, gentle and caring -- this relationship ( in both shows ) is built upon a strong friendship and mutual respect before evolving into romantic love.

lots of tragic ill fated lurv n all that too. love triangles in both shows involving relatives (in ja myung go sisters in love with the same man, in imperial doctress brothers in love with the same women)

court machinations n manipulations abound...

both shows are melodramatic but entertaining and plotwisty in the juiciest (though admittedly sometimes most absurd) way