In a word, choreo. Judging by the first mission, they will be singing western pop, but performing Kpop choreo. Kpop has dance training/performance down to a science, while western pop barely has a non-nugu group left to even just stand there and sing.
Like why would Black Swan be more popular than Little Mix in the West?
I'd have to hear what they'd come up with in terms of a western pop song, but I don't think they would. Black Swan, who self-identifies as Kpop and sings Kpop songs in Korean, is still working on being accepted in Korea.
Keep in mind Little Mix members were all aspiring soloists who got put together to not waste their public exposure through X Factor - so they weren't even really ideal gg candidates who were properly selected for their visuals and dance skills in addition to their vocals unlike the 20/120,000 chosen for Dream Academy.
That said, it's still a crapshoot and there's no guarantee for success - Spice Girls members were chosen from only 400 candidates at an audition in London almost three decades ago and had such an impact they're still remembered today. What can be said though is that the team that emerges from Dream Academy, each candidate having already bested 6000 others for their spot, will have as good a shot as any atp.
Asian Artists are trying to break into rich Western Markets, not the other way around
Agree. I don't think they'll be looking to chart on Melon rather than Billboard. But if they succeed, they could end up touring Asia like other western artists.