Core Viewpoint - The chairman of New Oriental, Yu Minhong, addressed the backlash regarding his recent trip to Antarctica and emphasized the company's tradition of allowing employee feedback and criticism [3][4]. Group 1: Employee Engagement and Company Culture - Yu Minhong stated that allowing employees to voice their grievances is a tradition at New Oriental, and he encourages this practice as a means to identify and correct issues within the company [3]. - He mentioned that there are instances of individuals impersonating New Oriental employees online, but he trusts the public's ability to discern authenticity [3]. Group 2: Antarctica Trip Details - The trip to Antarctica involves various ships and cabin options, with prices ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 yuan [4]. - Yu Minhong clarified that he and his colleague traveled on the "Xia Gu" ship, which is a modern icebreaker, and the cost for their trip was between 200,000 to 250,000 yuan, contrary to the reported 1.48 million yuan [4]. - The "Xia Gu" ship is noted for its advanced capabilities and is designed for polar exploration, with a capacity of 245 passengers [11]. Group 3: Company Communication and Public Perception - On November 16, New Oriental celebrated its 32nd anniversary, during which Yu Minhong released an internal letter reflecting on the company's journey and future aspirations [11]. - The internal letter did not resonate as expected with employees, leading to comments about the disconnect between the CEO's vacation and their work commitments [11]. - Following the controversy, Yu Minhong posted videos from his trip, indicating that he was discussing future educational initiatives related to nature for children [13].