Idol singer dates basketballer

Jeong Chang-young, left, Jung-a / Korea Times file

Singer Jung-a from seven-member idol girl band After School is dating a professional basketballer.

The band leader, 32, is in a relationship with Korean Basketball League player Jeong Chang-young, 27, from Changwon LG Sakers, media outlets said Thursday.

An entertainment industry insider was quoted as saying the couple "first met each other in a casual meeting and began to date."

Pledis Entertainment, which manages the band, confirmed the relationship in another report.

Jeong has been playing for Sakers since 2011. He returned to the team in January after playing for the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps basketball team as his military duty.

Jung-a debuted in 2009 with the band's single album "New Schoolgirl."