3M has appointed Jung Byung-kook as president of its office in Korea, the company said in a statement Monday.

Jung is the first Korean to run the Seoul office of the U.S- based producer of everything from adhesives to electronic circuits since it started business here in 1977.

Jung’s becoming the head of 3M Korea is part of 3M’s core global strategy on localization of its products, business and customer service, the company said.

The 54-year-old businessman replaces Frank Little, who had managed 3M Korea since 2008.

Little, who also served as the chairman of American Chamber of Commerce, will take the vice president’s post at the occupation health and environmental safety division of 3M’s headquarters in Minnesota.

Jung joined 3M Korea in 1984 and has taken a variety of posts in the company.

Fluent in English, he worked as president of Ablestik Korea and Alfredo in Singapore between 1999 and 2006.

Based on deep understanding on the Korean market, particularly electronics, automobiles and renewable energy, the new managing director has been successfully leading 3M Korea’s industrial and transportation business since 2006, the company said.

He graduated from Inha University in Incheon with a bachelor’s degree in material engineering.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)