" like BTS? And please, spare me the "they are the best" responses, lets be real for a second here. They knew what to do at the right time and had a great marketing campaign that propelled them to the global market, but they shared/share a lot of similarities with other groups, from image to music, kpop in general works in homogeneity."
1. One direction disbanding helped them a lot, after 1D disbanded BTS popped up at the perfect time.
2. The personas of each member, like every other k-pop group, there is a member for every fan to like.
3. BTS' and how they mention actually being involved in their work (writing and producing) - it separated them from other K-POP groups
4. The occasional 'vulernability' compared to other k-pop groups, BTS would share vulnerable moments with their fans, this strengthened the parasocial relationship their fans have with them.
5. Starting from the bottom, again, another factor that strengthens their parasocial relationship, fans are constantly screaming about how they deserve their success because compared to other nepotism idols, most of the members had a rough upbringing and when they first started out as idols they also weren't as rich.
6. Interacting with fans often and adding ENG subs.
7. (Most important of all imo) PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIP the fans have with the members.
8. Their music, I can say around LOVE YOURSELF TEAR and everything before that, BTS had a solid discography that stood out amongst their peers.