Ms Maria CASTILLO FERNANDEZ has been serving as the Ambassador of the European to the Republic of Korea since 2020. Previously, Ms Castillo Fernandez served as the EU Ambassador to Malaysia (2016-2020). From 2012 to 2020, Ms Castillo Fernandez worked at the headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels and, as Head of Division for India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, in charge of coordinating the EU’s overall relations with these South Asian countries. From 2008 to 2012 she served as the Head of the EU Office Hong Kong and Macao. From 2000 to 2008, Ms Castillo Fernandez was in charge of EU political relations and economic cooperation activities with the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea, both with postings in Brussels (2000-2005) and as a Deputy Head of Mission in Seoul (2005-2008). Prior to this, Ms Castillo Fernandez had an extensive career in the European Commission.
Ms Castillo Fernandez completed postgraduate studies in European law, economics and international relations with two masters, one obtained from the College of Europe (Bruges, Belgium) and the second from the Institute of European Studies (Strasbourg, France). Prior to this, she obtained a law degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain).
Ms Castillo Fernandez is a Spanish citizen. Besides her Spanish mother tongue, she is fluent in English and French, and has good command of German and Dutch.
Ms Castillo Fernandez was decorated in 2008 with the Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil by the King of Spain for strengthening relations between the EU and the Korean Peninsula.